Azzi Fudd Taken First In Wnba Draft By Dallas Wings In Uconn Reunion With Paige Bueckers

Azzi Fudd was selected by nan Dallas Wings pinch nan first prime of nan WNBA draught connected Monday night, capping a 12-month ascent from NCAA champion to nan apical wide prime and mounting up a reunion pinch erstwhile University of Connecticut teammate Paige Bueckers.

The 5ft 11in guard, who led UConn to past year’s nationalist title and was named nan Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player, becomes nan seventh subordinate from nan programme to spell No 1. Bueckers, nan apical action by Dallas successful nan 2025 draught and nan reigning WNBA rookie of nan year, watched Fudd’s sanction called from a sold-out crowd astatine the Shed, nan $500m taste halfway astatine Hudson Yards connected Manhattan’s westbound side.

“I’m not really judge I person words to picture nan feeling, what that meant,” Fudd said. “I don’t deliberation it’s afloat sunk in. I don’t really person words.”

Fudd’s action comes astatine nan onset of a reshaped draught landscape, pinch nan league’s new corporate bargaining agreement substantially escalating rookie salaries. The apical prime is group to gain astir $500,000, a important hike from erstwhile seasons and respective times higher than what Bueckers received arsenic nan No 1 prime past year.

Unlike past April, erstwhile Bueckers was nan clear-cut choice, this year’s draught featured nary statement apical pick. Fudd separated herself precocious successful nan process arsenic Dallas addressed their frontcourt needs during nan condensed free-agency period, adding knowledgeable station players for illustration protect prima Alanna Smith and Jessica Shepard.

Minnesota selected Texas Christian defender Olivia Miles pinch nan 2nd prime aft she returned for an further assemblage play and led nan Horned Frogs to a 2nd consecutive Elite Eight appearance. Seattle followed by taking Spanish halfway Awa Fam Thiam third, while Washington chose UCLA’s Lauren Betts fourth.

Chicago rounded retired nan apical 5 pinch UCLA defender Gabriela Jaquez, and nan description Toronto Tempo selected chap Bruins defender Kiki Rice astatine No 6, extending UCLA’s beingness astatine nan apical of nan draught only 8 days aft their nationalist title run.

The apical prospects invited to Monday’s draught successful New York airs connected nan shape earlier nan start. Photograph: Angelina Katsanis/Getty Images

Golden State selected Louisiana State defender Flau’jae Johnson pinch nan No 8 pick, but later agreed to nan draft’s first trade, sending her authorities to Seattle successful speech for TCU guardant Marta Suarez, nan No 16 wide pick, on pinch a 2028 second-round selection.

The Bruins’ ceremony carried done nan night. Washington added different UCLA player, Angela Dugalic, astatine No 9, and Connecticut selected Gianna Kneepkens pinch nan 15th and last prime of nan first round, giving UCLA 5 first-round selections – mounting a grounds for nan astir ever by a azygous program.

Dallas participate nan play seeking a turnaround aft consecutive losing campaigns and important roster turnover. Fudd joins a backcourt that includes Bueckers and All-Star defender Arike Ogunbowale arsenic nan Wings effort to reestablish themselves pursuing an extended barren spell that’s included only 1 playoff bid triumph since 2010.

“Our clip astatine UConn was afloat of injuries – either I was playing and she wasn’t, aliases she was playing and I wasn’t,” Fudd said of her pairing pinch Bueckers. “It wasn’t until past twelvemonth that we really sewage a chance to play together, and moreover past it wasn’t a afloat season. So I consciousness for illustration there’s still truthful overmuch near connected nan table, truthful overmuch unknown, truthful overmuch imaginable – not conscionable pinch her, but pinch nan full Dallas Wings roster.”

Her presence successful Dallas besides extends a relationship that predates nan draft. Fudd and Bueckers spent 4 seasons together astatine UConn and confirmed past twelvemonth they were a relationship, a move that adds an further furniture of familiarity arsenic nan Wings build astir 2 No 1 picks.

The draught besides reflected broader changes crossed nan league. Expansion franchises Toronto and Portland continued to build their rosters, pinch aggregate teams holding further first-round picks pursuing offseason trades and description -related moves, while accrued salaries and further roster spots nether nan caller labour woody are expected to amended nan chances for incoming players to make opening-day teams.

Historically, roster spots have been scarce, pinch only astir half of drafted players making last squads. That unit is expected to easiness somewhat arsenic nan convention expands to 18 teams complete nan adjacent 5 years, pinch Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia each group to subordinate by 2030.

The different UConn players to spell No 1 wide are Bueckers, Breanna Stewart (2016), Maya Moore (2011), Tina Charles (2010), Diana Taurasi (2004) and Sue Bird (2002).