Why Reuniting Azzi Fudd With Paige Bueckers in WNBA Draft Actually Makes Sense | Deadspin.com The basketball social media sphere was set on fire Monday night during the WNBA Draft.
With the No. 1 overall pick, the Dallas Wings selected UConn guard Azzi Fudd.
Much has already been made about this selection feeling like a surprise, as the Wings needed frontcourt help – not another backcourt player. But Fudd was college teammates with Paige Bueckers, who the Wings selected No. 1 overall last season. They also have a public, personal, romantic relationship.
Of course, the internet trolls instantly believed that the Wings only drafted Fudd because she is dating Bueckers, the face of the franchise in Dallas. Speculation has already run rampant that the Wings only made this selection to appease Bueckers by landing her partner and former college teammate.
Only a few basketball couples have become teammates in the WNBA. But it’s wildly unfair to suggest that Bueckers and Fudd’s personal relationship with each other was the only reason why she became the No. 1 overall pick.
In reality, Fudd’s top selection was hardly a surprise.
To those who actually follow the WNBA, Fudd was expected to be the No. 1 overall pick before the draft. Even though TCU guard Olivia Miles and UCLA center Lauren Betts were popular draft prospects, Fudd fills an important role for the Wings – strictly on the court. Major mock drafts, including ESPN, CBS Sports, and USA Today all had Fudd as the No. 1 overall pick before Monday night.
Fudd was the 2025 NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, but wasn’t as dominant in 2026. The Wings needed guard depth and shooting – Fudd checks both of those boxes. The Wings bolstered their frontcourt in free agency, giving themselves the flexibility to take a flier on a high upside player with the No. 1 overall selection.
Again – strictly on the court – there’s no denying that Bueckers and Fudd have chemistry. They won the 2025 NCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship together at UConn.
Off the court, it’ll benefit both No. 1 overall selections to have their significant others for support. Bueckers is still just 24 years old. Fudd is only 23. Navigating a high-profile career in the WNBA while focusing on player development could be difficult for any young person. But being able to experience that transition from college hoops into professional basketball stardom with a significant other would be helpful to anybody.
Instead of throwing stones towards this situation, casual WNBA fans need to zoom out a bit. The Wings are rebuilding their entire roster around Bueckers. Forget that she’s dating Fudd. They landed her very talented former teammate who is known to show up in big moments defensively and from behind the perimeter.
#Reuniting #Azzi #Fudd #Paige #Bueckers #WNBA #Draft #Sense #Deadspin.com
The basketball social media sphere was set on fire Monday night during the WNBA Draft.
With the No. 1 overall pick, the Dallas Wings selected UConn guard Azzi Fudd.
Much has already been made about this selection feeling like a surprise, as the Wings needed frontcourt help – not another backcourt player. But Fudd was college teammates with Paige Bueckers, who the Wings selected No. 1 overall last season. They also have a public, personal, romantic relationship.
Of course, the internet trolls instantly believed that the Wings only drafted Fudd because she is dating Bueckers, the face of the franchise in Dallas. Speculation has already run rampant that the Wings only made this selection to appease Bueckers by landing her partner and former college teammate.
Only a few basketball couples have become teammates in the WNBA. But it’s wildly unfair to suggest that Bueckers and Fudd’s personal relationship with each other was the only reason why she became the No. 1 overall pick.
In reality, Fudd’s top selection was hardly a surprise.
To those who actually follow the WNBA, Fudd was expected to be the No. 1 overall pick before the draft. Even though TCU guard Olivia Miles and UCLA center Lauren Betts were popular draft prospects, Fudd fills an important role for the Wings – strictly on the court. Major mock drafts, including ESPN, CBS Sports, and USA Today all had Fudd as the No. 1 overall pick before Monday night.
Fudd was the 2025 NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, but wasn’t as dominant in 2026. The Wings needed guard depth and shooting – Fudd checks both of those boxes. The Wings bolstered their frontcourt in free agency, giving themselves the flexibility to take a flier on a high upside player with the No. 1 overall selection.
Again – strictly on the court – there’s no denying that Bueckers and Fudd have chemistry. They won the 2025 NCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship together at UConn.
Off the court, it’ll benefit both No. 1 overall selections to have their significant others for support. Bueckers is still just 24 years old. Fudd is only 23. Navigating a high-profile career in the WNBA while focusing on player development could be difficult for any young person. But being able to experience that transition from college hoops into professional basketball stardom with a significant other would be helpful to anybody.
Instead of throwing stones towards this situation, casual WNBA fans need to zoom out a bit. The Wings are rebuilding their entire roster around Bueckers. Forget that she’s dating Fudd. They landed her very talented former teammate who is known to show up in big moments defensively and from behind the perimeter.
![Suryansh Shedge: Should have stayed longer because I was set Spending time in the middle was the mantra for Suryansh Shedge, whose 57 off 29 balls had temporarily seemed to have dragged Punjab Kings out of the woods on Sunday.The visitor eventually lost by four wickets against the Gujarat Titans, but Shedge, having waited for long to pounce on an opportunity, got much-needed gametime.“I wouldn’t say I was waiting. I was preparing. So, I look at it from that perspective that whenever I’m thrown into a situation, I should be ready for that. I’ve been speaking to Ricky [Ponting] sir a lot. I’ve been speaking to our captain a lot because I know him. The only thing they tell me is whenever the opportunity knocks, you have to be ready and take it with both hands. So that’s what I tried to do,” Shedge said.“It’s just sometimes some batters get good balls and they get out. But my only intention was to spend as much time as I could. And that, I think, made things easier as I progressed through the innings.”Despite being his side’s best batter and getting it to a competitive 163 on a two-paced wicket, Shedge took responsibility for the loss.“That 7.5-metre length was difficult to play. I think it was a bit two-paced because of the grass and the black soil. And I think at the end of the day, if we would have saved some runs here and there, we would have ended up winning the game. But I put my hand up. I think I should have stayed there because I was set. And if I would have let that ball go [from Kagiso Rabada], things would have been different,” Shedge said.Published on May 04, 2026 #Suryansh #Shedge #stayed #longer #set](https://i0.wp.com/ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/s7dydp/article70937916.ece/alternates/LANDSCAPE_1200/VIS_2885.JPG?ssl=1 "Suryansh Shedge: Should have stayed longer because I was set Spending time in the middle was the mantra for Suryansh Shedge, whose 57 off 29 balls had temporarily seemed to have dragged Punjab Kings out of the woods on Sunday.The visitor eventually lost by four wickets against the Gujarat Titans, but Shedge, having waited for long to pounce on an opportunity, got much-needed gametime.“I wouldn’t say I was waiting. I was preparing. So, I look at it from that perspective that whenever I’m thrown into a situation, I should be ready for that. I’ve been speaking to Ricky [Ponting] sir a lot. I’ve been speaking to our captain a lot because I know him. The only thing they tell me is whenever the opportunity knocks, you have to be ready and take it with both hands. So that’s what I tried to do,” Shedge said.“It’s just sometimes some batters get good balls and they get out. But my only intention was to spend as much time as I could. And that, I think, made things easier as I progressed through the innings.”Despite being his side’s best batter and getting it to a competitive 163 on a two-paced wicket, Shedge took responsibility for the loss.“That 7.5-metre length was difficult to play. I think it was a bit two-paced because of the grass and the black soil. And I think at the end of the day, if we would have saved some runs here and there, we would have ended up winning the game. But I put my hand up. I think I should have stayed there because I was set. And if I would have let that ball go [from Kagiso Rabada], things would have been different,” Shedge said.Published on May 04, 2026 #Suryansh #Shedge #stayed #longer #set")
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