Paige Bueckers put the WNBA on notice after Dallas Wings co-star and girlfriend Azzi Fudd’s breakout game on Sunday against the New York Liberty. Fudd scored 24 points, making 9 of her 15 shots, including a historically good six 3-pointers, tied for the second-most for a rookie in a single game.
The Wings won 91-76, showing they can hang with just about anybody this season and aim for a deep playoff push with Bueckers and Fudd leading. Bueckers was as confident as anyone after that result, especially with the buzz surrounding Fudd. Here’s what the former UConn star said about her former college teammate’s performance:
“We knew it was only a matter of time, “Bueckers said. “It takes time as a rookie to get your legs under your feet going. Just to get some experience and some reps at it. So it was only a matter of time before we knew the breakout was coming.
“But just for us as teammates to instill that we need her. We know she’s capable, more than capable of doing stuff like this on any given night. I think that’s just what the future looks like.”
The Wings were solid with Azzi Fudd on the floor in the first half. She was a team-high plus-minus +6, while Dallas trailed by one point. Coach Jose Fernandez started her in the third quarter and Fudd repaid the faith with a 17-point burst. She made five 3-pointers on seven attempts, giving Dallas a 10-point lead heading into the fourth.
Fudd wasn’t just effective on offense. She maintained her defensive intensity, too. In the fourth quarter, she got two blocks, including a huge one against Breanna Stewart.
Wings HC Jose Fernandez and Azzi Fudd speak about her starting role nod
Wings fans have complained about Azzi Fudd coming off the bench. Many critics believe it was one of the contributing factors to her slow start before Sunday’s explosion. In her limited minutes with the starters, Fudd performed well in her first five games, but coach Jose Fernandez didn’t give her enough time with the first unit.
After Sunday’s massive night, Fernandez changed his tune on Fudd starting, saying:
“We’re headed in that direction.”
Meanwhile, Fudd stayed grounded, suggesting she’s willing to defer to the veterans and earn her role.
“I’m in a super and rare situation where on a team with some incredible vets, so, to me it doesn’t matter if I’m starting, if I’m coming off the bench, if I’m playing a whole game, if I’m playing half a game, if I’m playing 10 minutes, I’m gonna earn my time.”
Azzi Fudd outlined the positives of coming off the bench, suggesting she could read the flow of the game better and impact the play wherever the Wings were falling short.
