While there was never a consensus No. 1 pick in the public eye, the Dallas Wings always had their sights set on Azzi Fudd. As draft night unfolded, the Wings held their ground, selecting back-to-back players for the second consecutive time. Defined by her 3-point prowess, GM Curt Miller and head coach Jose Fernandez detail why Fudd was the clear choice all along.
With the first pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, the Dallas Wings select…. Azzi Fudd.
Since relocating from Tulsa to Dallas in 2016, the franchise has experienced highs and lows, housing prominent names such as Allisha Gray, Satou Sabally, Skylar Diggins, Natasha Howard, and Marina Mabrey. Formerly the Detroit Shock and Tulsa Shock, the Wings haven’t won a championship in the decade since their migration to the Southwest.
Aside from four first-round exits, the closest thing to a trophy the Wings have witnessed was a semifinals 3-0 series loss against the Las Vegas Aces in 2023. Under the new era of Miller and Fernandez, there’s a sense of urgency to win, awareness, and financial investment that’s been poured into the franchise.
“The millions of dollars of investment from last year to this year that this organization has done, our ownership group should raise their hands that we are becoming one of the ‘Joneses’ of the league”, said Miller. “The word is getting out, and Dallas is here to be a player like the big franchises that have gotten that reputation before.”
Over the last six years, the organization has undergone several coaching changes: Brian Agler, Vickie Johnson, Latricia Trammell, and Chris Koclanes. Arike Ogunbowale arrived as the franchise cornerstone in 2019 and has stayed devoted to the green, cyan, and blue. The last two seasons have been turbulent to say the least, as the roaring winds culminated in a 19-65 record since 2024.
While Trammell’s departure was questionable, it’s evident that the franchise is committed to rebuilding and redefining Dallas’s place in the WNBA. By drafting Paige Bueckers No. 1 overall in 2025, the Wings landed their future franchise star. Then came head coach Jose Fernandez, who had previously served as the University of South Florida women’s basketball team’s head coach.
Azzi Fudd taking pictures with her new #35 Dallas Wings jersey after completing her introductory press conference. pic.twitter.com/ImjscjbsXt
— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) April 16, 2026
Free Agency Solidified Drafting Fudd
So, what led to the selection of Fudd?
Miller and Fernandez have built a kinship, one that’s led them to scout around the globe and make hundreds of phone calls per day. Their persistent efforts to restore this roster have been relentless. Because of the collaborative efforts, especially financially, Dallas reaped the benefits of free agency, and so did the players.
“We set out on a plan to be deliberate, thorough, with intention on evaluating where we got to ultimately, in picking Azzi Fudd,” said Miller on draft night. “We traveled all over the world watching this incredible draft class, but it all came back, always to Azzi.”
The Wings stayed aggressive, bolstering its frontcourt by signing former Lynx players Jessica Shepard and Alanna Smith. By securing Ogunbowale to a multi-year deal, the No. 1 pick grew clearer. Awa Fam and Lauren Betts were strong options for Dallas, but they solved their shortcomings in free agency.
“Obviously, we had an outstanding free agency in the post,” said Miller. “I will tell you that Azzi was our pick, is our pick, but the free agency success in the post made it crystal clear.”
Heading into Monday’s draft, the Wings formed a strong quartet that includes Ogunbowale, Bueckers, Smith, and Shepard. Fernandez admitted the scouting process for both free agency and the draft began two weeks after his hiring in late November.
“It’s an exciting time,” said Fernandez at Fudd’s introductory presser on Thursday, “Last week with the expansion draft, the work that this front office and Greg [Bibb] did in free agency, culminating on Monday night. We get who we wanted.”
Fernandez detailed his endeavors to hit the ground running early on. Once hired, his first stop was to Storrs, Connecticut.
“After I got hired, the first trip that I took was Storrs for three, four days,” said Fernandez on draft night. “Sit down, talk to Geno (Auriemma), and really get a full glimpse on Azzi right away.”
Fernandez gleaned as he continued to watch Fudd in Big East games and the NCAA Tournament. Even though the tournament wasn’t as kind to Fudd, Fernandez and the Wings “never wavered” from their team needs.
What Dallas Valued the Most
For the Wings, it starts with basketball, but that wasn’t the sole factor in choosing the former UConn star. Miller had nothing but praise, described Fudd as a winner, competitor, and hard-worker, who has shown incredible perseverance following injuries. An unselfish player, Fudd has the defensive intelligence and “lightning-quick release” the Wings seek in a player.
Above all, it was the intangibles that sold the Wings on No. 35. Both Miller and Fernandez lauded Fudd’s ability to add to the team’s culture, describing her as the “right fit for this team.” She’s a winner who has a great locker room presence.
“She’s a winner, she’s a really hard worker, she puts time into her craft,” said Miller. “She’s competitive, but she’s an incredible teammate with her unselfishness… it’s the intangibles that are separators for us. We never wavered during free agency and now into the draft, that you win first in the locker room, and we have filled that locker room out with some of the most incredible character players that are in this league.”
Fernandez was quick to point out just how important those intangibles are, especially in a No. 1 pick.
“She wants to be great, and the great one want to be coached and want to be told the truth. She has incredible work ethic. She does things outside of the required times that she did in college, and that’s why she’s special.”
Culture is a Priority
Dating back to 2025, Miller addressed the importance of culture and the locker room.
“First and foremost, it’s always going to be culture for us,” said Miller. “It’s going to be adding great people. I think people wins over talent any day. Chris and I have been part of a lot of successful teams in the WNBA, and we truly believe that started always in the locker room.”
While Koclanes is no longer in the picture, Miller has honored his word in his further development and blueprint of the Wings. Fudd brings synergy with Bueckers, whom she won a national championship at UConn in 2025 and spent four years in Storrs. Although both were hampered by injuries, they already have established chemistry over 49 games.
Miller further elaborated that the decision was a collaborative effort. Consulting both Bueckers and Ogunbowale through the free agency and draft process, there were four clear prospects who separated themselves from the rest. While Miller didn’t specify, Fudd, Lauren Betts, Olivia Miles, and Awa Fam were all among popular conversations for the top pick. Miller emphasized that a partnership with his star players is crucial.
A Lineup That’s Versatile
While the intangibles are what ultimately convinced the front office, Fudd’s playstyle, and build, makes sense for the current lineup. Solidifying the frontcourt with Shepard and Smith will only create space and opportunities. Fernandez made an excellent point—teams will be forced to guard the Wings.
“We needed to address 3-point shooting, perimeter shooting, and the floor being spaced,” Fernandez told the media on Monday. “Having Paige, Arike, and Azzi on the floor together, and what we addressed in free agency with our front line–there’s definitely different lineups we can play.”
Fernandez specifically referenced Fudd’s ability to attack in transition, and the endless actions that the team can run in the halfcourt. Fudd is a perennial shooter, but a large part of her success is her quick release and her ability to get open off flare, pindown, and stagger screens, just to name a few. Although she can improve on her shot creation, a three-guard lineup could be a mismatch headache for any team.
The potential of Smith/Shepard pick-and-rolls with Bueckers could open up much-needed spacing along the perimeter. As Miller said, “it’s gonna take a little bit of time for Jose to work his magic,” but this team has some strong, versatile players not only on both sides of the ball, but players who are threats on the perimeter.
“When you look at this roster and you look at Paige, Arike, Azzi, Aziaha (James), Maddy (Siegrist), and the frontline, we’re tough to guard,” said Fernandez. “The same way probably some people are concerned on how we’re going to play defensively, people are going to have to guard us as well.”
It was a dreadful season on both ends for Dallas in 2025, who ranked No. 9 in offensive rating last season (101.6), averaged 81.7 points, and shot 30.4% from beyond the mark, marking the second-lowest percentage in the league. Fudd alone brings spacing, and what the team needs—perimeter shooting and defense.
What Azzi Fudd Brings to the Dallas Wings
Although training camp is yet to officially take place, Fernandez analyzed how lethal this team can be. Both Ogunbowale and Bueckers will take care of on ball duties, leaving Fudd as a prime off-ball option. In 39 games, the Arlington native shot a career-best 48.1% from the field, 95.5% from the free throw line, and 44.7% from beyond the arc her senior season. In her last tour at UConn, she tallied a career-best 17.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 2.5 steals.
Those statistics make her one of the dangerous perimeter threats in the league, which is exactly what the Wings lacked.
Fudd possesses a ton of talent, and her ability to cut, play off-ball defense and switch on bigger defenders makes her a versatile new weapon in Dallas’s arsenal. There was a significant jump from the championship season to 2025–26, where she recorded a career-best defensive rating (72.3).
Legitimately think Azzi Fudd might be the 2nd or 3rd best shooter in the world
Mens or womens basketball
— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) October 15, 2025
Fernandez is confident in his staff he’s assembled, who specializes in player development. The ceiling for Fudd doesn’t stop here, and he confirmed there’s room for growth, particularly as I mentioned before, creating off the bounce.
In her introductory presser, Fudd was focused on her senior season at UConn, but stayed in the present. Now the newest member of the Dallas Wings, Fudd is ecstatic to join the organization. For anyone questioning the pick, Fudd’s resume speaks for itself. Through her perseverance, Fudd enters her professional career in the WNBA as a NCAA champion, AP First Team All-American, NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player, and a two-time All-Big East First Team. In her time at Storrs, she accumulated 1,678 total points and 292 3-pointers.
“I was going to land where I was meant to be, whether that was here with the Wings or in a different organization,” said Fudd. Wherever that looked like, whoever that was with, I was gonna be grateful and I couldn’t be happier with how that worked out and where I am now.”
Training camps will begin this weekend, and the Wings open the preseason against Caitlin Clark and the Fever on April 30. Coincidentally, the two will face off for the season opener in Indiana on Sunday, May 9.
Sara Jane Gamelli is the Managing Editor and Senior Staff Writer at Ballislife.com, as well as Director of Ballislife Bets. Follow her on X at @SaraJGamelli.
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