Azzi Fudd's biggest rookie strength isn't her 3-point shot
Dallas Wings rookie Azzi Fudd is proving her biggest WNBA strength is defense, not her famous 3-point shot. Drafted first overall for elite perimeter shooting, the former UConn guard has instead leaned into steals, blocks, and tough on-ball stops that are helping Dallas climb back toward the playoffs alongside Paige Bueckers.
About halfway through her rookie year, Fudd has still lit up games with her signature 3-point shot. But as CT Insider reported, that shooting is not her only impact — and it may not even be her largest.
Key Takeaways
- Fudd was drafted No. 1 in April 2026 for her perimeter shooting, yet her defense is defining her rookie season.
- She leads all rookies with 32 steals and is tied for the draft class lead with 19 blocks, per Sports Illustrated.
- Fudd is averaging 13.6 points on 38.4% from three while growing into a high-level two-way wing for Dallas.
- Teammate Paige Bueckers said Fudd's physical, handsy defense has been the most surprising part of her pro transition.
- Fudd recently won a team half-court shooting contest and jokingly roasted Bueckers in front of reporters.
Why isn't Azzi Fudd's 3-point shot her biggest rookie strength?
Dallas took Fudd first overall because she was among the best perimeter shooters in the 2026 draft class. She finished her UConn career fifth in program history with 292 career 3-pointers, seventh in 3-point percentage at 42.2%, and fourth in single-season makes with a nation-best 117 in 2025-26.
That reputation followed her to the WNBA, but CT Insider noted that Fudd's quick footwork, willingness to take risks, and timing around the basket have become her most valuable professional tools. She has leaned into defense especially on nights when her shot is not falling.
How is Azzi Fudd impacting the Dallas Wings on defense?
The 5-foot-11 guard was one of UConn's best defenders in Storrs, though that side of her game was often overshadowed by clutch shooting. In Dallas, that has changed.
According to Sports Illustrated, Fudd leads all rookies with 32 steals and shares the draft-class lead with 19 blocks. She regularly takes tough perimeter assignments and uses her hands to create deflections, steals, and blocks against bigger opponents.
Paige Bueckers, her former Huskies teammate and current Wings star, told CT Insider that Fudd's defense has been the most surprising adjustment. "She's always had really great hands," Bueckers said. "She gets deflections, she gets steals, she gets blocks, and she's really physical on that end of the floor."
What does Fudd's rookie season look like overall?
SI reported that Fudd's season has gone largely to plan despite a slow start. Since moving into the starting lineup, she has averaged 14.9 points per game, which would rank second on the team behind Bueckers. Over the full season, she is at 13.6 points on 38.4% from deep on just under five attempts per night.
The Wings drafted Fudd to space the floor for Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale, and SI argued Dallas made the right pick for a roster that already had a franchise guard. When her shooting and defense click together, Fudd looks like the elite complementary piece the Wings envisioned.
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How are Fudd and Bueckers handling life as Dallas teammates?
The reunited UConn backcourt has become one of the league's most watched pairings. After Fudd won the Wings' half-court shooting competition following a Saturday practice, she playfully took aim at Bueckers in front of reporters.
"All of them are great except Paige," Fudd said, per ClutchPoints. "I hope she misses every half-court shot for the rest of the year." Bueckers has maintained that Fudd earned the No. 1 pick on merit, even as rookie Olivia Miles has kept the draft debate lively.