Azzi Fudd was selected No. 1 overall in this year's WNBA Draft and immediately made her mark on the league. The Dallas Wings' pick carries the most lucrative rookie contract in WNBA history and is already proving herself on the court, contributing to the team's best start since 2023.

A basketball legacy in motion

Fudd's path to the WNBA reads like a highlight reel: McDonald's All-American in high school, NCAA champion and All-American at the University of Connecticut, and multi-time FIBA gold medalist. Her selection felt almost inevitable—she was named after Olympic gold medalist Jennifer Azzi and is the daughter of former WNBA draftee Katie Fudd. Yet the moment still overwhelmed her. "I'm not really sure I have the words to describe that feeling," Fudd reflected on draft night in April. "I don't think it's fully sunk in." WNBA icon Breanna Stewart echoed what scouts and fans already knew: "She is an incredible player, obviously. She was drafted No. 1 for a reason."

Reuniting on the hardwood

Beyond her individual talent, Fudd's draft generated particular excitement because it reunited her with Paige Bueckers, the 2025 No. 1 overall pick and her former UConn teammate. Fudd and Bueckers navigated years of relationship speculation with humor and cryptic social media posts—most memorably, a mirror selfie Fudd posted last June wearing a phone case that read "Paige Bueckers' Girlfriend." Bueckers confirmed their relationship publicly in a TikTok video recorded at the WNBA All-Star Game in July, marking a significant moment for visibility in professional basketball.

Building on court and off

While Fudd and Bueckers have kept their relationship private since going public, Fudd's early performances suggest her focus remains on the game. "Everybody knows that she is someone that makes basketball look easy," Fudd said of her partner. "Even then it wasn't a full season [at UConn]. So, I feel like there's still so much left on the table and so much potential, not just with her but with the entire Dallas Wings roster." As women's professional sports continue to boom, Fudd joins other out athletes reshaping the landscape—proving that elite talent and authentic visibility can coexist.

Source: Queerty

Cover photo: Gamecock Central, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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Azzi Fudd Drafted No. 1 in WNBA, Reunites with Partner Paige Bueckers