Fudd’s Journey with the Wings

Azzi Fudd’s entry into the professional realm hasn’t exactly been smooth. The Dallas Wings selected her as the first overall pick, yet her debut saw her making only two shot attempts in 18 minutes while coming off the bench. To top it off, she missed the team’s home opener due to a knee injury.

Almost immediately, discussions sparked regarding whether Fudd truly deserved the top pick title. People are also questioning head coach Jose Fernandez about using her more and possibly elevating her to a starter position instead of keeping her on the bench.

However, Fudd’s contributions to the Wings have started to show visibly over the last week, and her integration into the team is increasingly apparent. At just 23 years old, she is mainly recognized for her exceptional 3-point shooting, but she’s demonstrating that there’s much more to her game.

In her most recent outings, she netted eight points on 4-of-7 shooting in 20 minutes last Thursday, followed by back-to-back games of 12 points, shooting an impressive 66.7 percent and limiting her 3-point attempts to just five.

“I know I’m a solid 3-point shooter,” Fudd mentioned after her 12-point performance in a victory over the Washington Mystics. “Some people try to confine me to just that, but I’m capable of so much more. It’s been enjoyable analyzing the offense and the defensive strategies. I’ve got fantastic teammates who help me create open opportunities.”

This season, she’s averaging 8.8 points while shooting 62.5 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from the 3-point line. Surprisingly, she’s already emerged as the team’s fourth-leading scorer and logs the fourth-most playing time behind Paige Backers, Arike Ogunbowale, and Jessica Shepherd.

“She’s a joy to be around. A great teammate who’s always eager to learn,” Fernandez said during a pregame press conference recently.

On the other hand, Olivia Miles, the second overall pick, has had a standout season with the Minnesota Lynx. Averaging 15.5 points and 5.8 assists per game, she could be a strong contender for Rookie of the Year, especially since her team lost several key players and desperately needed a point guard.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean Miles would have fit well with the Wings, who are led by players like Paige Backers and Odyssey Sims. While Miles may have generational talent due to her passing prowess, Fudd seems to mesh better with the Wings. They have recently found success, winning two straight games after being criticized by coach Fernandez for their lack of teamwork following a loss to the Lynx.

In fact, over the last three games, the Wings outscored their opponents by an incredible 34 points during the 62 minutes that Fudd played.

It’s exciting to think about the potential ahead for UConn’s star, particularly considering she’s making her mark this early on in her career.