Wings Triumph Over Liberty in Fudd’s Debut

The Liberty faced a disappointing loss on Sunday.

Aj Fudd led the Dallas Wings to a 91-76 victory over the Liberty, making her season debut for New York less than ideal.

Interestingly, Fudd scored more in the first ten minutes of the second half than she had in the entire first half of the game.

After a mere four points in the first two quarters, she exploded for 17 points in the third, shooting 5-of-7.

Following her one successful three-pointer, she glanced back at Brianna Stewart with a smile.

It seemed like Fudd had finally found her footing. She appeared unstoppable.

Every shot from her seemed destined to find the net.

Fudd finished the game with 24 points off the bench, shattering her previous career-high of 12, which she’d hit twice just last week.

Her stats included six three-pointers, two rebounds, three assists, three steals, and two blocks over an impressive 32 minutes of play.

Since draft night, there’s been chatter about the Wings selecting Fudd over TCU standout Olivia Miles as the top pick.

Miles went second overall to the Lynx, and while it’s early in the season, she’s proving to be a strong Rookie of the Year contender.

Miles is averaging 15 points, 5 rebounds, and around 5.5 assists while shooting 45.7 percent in six games.

Fudd, however, didn’t want to be the number one pick.

She wasn’t aiming for the immense expectations associated with it.

Instead, she’s trying to sidestep the scrutiny that often comes with high-profile positions as she adapts to the WNBA.

Her performance on Sunday certainly reinforced the argument for her selection as the top pick.

Brianna Stewart acknowledged Fudd’s talent, saying, “Azzi is obviously a great player. There’s a reason she was drafted No. 1 overall. But her shot and release are very fast and very deadly. As her game evolves in the WNBA, people will start to recognize that she’s more than just a three-point shooter.”

Sunday was particularly significant for Fudd as she encountered many of the players who inspired her. Notably, it was her first time competing against Stewart.

“Stewie is someone I’ve looked up to. I’ve seen her banner every day for the last five years,” Fudd noted. “It’s truly an honor to be on the court with her.”