Azzi Fudd began her debut regular-season game in the WNBA on the bench. Head coach Jose Fernandez’s decision has baffled fans and analysts, as the Dallas Wings managed to edge out the Indiana Fever in the final seconds of the game, 107-104. Fudd scored three points with a one-and-only 3-pointer, with one rebound in 18 minutes. Wings HC clarified the reasoning behind his decision on the former UConn guard.
Fudd was drafted with the first overall pick in the 2026 WNBA draft by the Wings to pair alongside their franchise face, Paige Bueckers. However, the two did not start the game together, and HC Fernandez said that he decided to bring Fudd off the bench because the team is filled with talented backcourt pieces. He said:
“Keep doing what she’s doing, it’s her first year in the league. We got five really talented backcourt players.”
The last time a top pick debuted off the bench in the WNBA was in 2017, and the player was Kelsey Plum. Looking at her career, Fudd would not be too worried about her future. However, she took just two attempts from the 3-point line and made one in her first WNBA game.
Paige Bueckers, on the other hand, started where she left off last season. She shot 8-10 from the field, including 1-3 from deep, and scored 20 points, three rebounds, and four assists. Arike Ogunbowale led the team with 22 points and five assists.
How can the Wings backcourt affect Azzi Fudd’s debut season?
As HC Jose Fernandez said, the Dallas Wings consist of Paige Bueckers, Odyssey Sims, Arike Ogunbowale, Aziaha James, and Azzi Fudd in the guard position. Besides Fudd, the other four were clinical in the Wings’ first win over the Indiana Fever.
James led the bench with 10 points, shooting 3-3 from deep. Moreover, Sims and Bueckers made clutch buckets to get the team a much-needed push towards the win.
Even before the Wings drafted Fudd as the top pick, her fit in the roster was highly debated. She is not a ball handler, but her perimeter shooting and defense are what make her a perfect fit for Bueckers. However, the Wings have veteran guards in the starting lineup who bring professional experience and are almost certain to be preferred over the rookie.
The team has got a much-needed start, but the same can not be said for Azzi Fudd. The talented rookie will face this dilemma in the future as well and might not get enough opportunities to have a Rookie of the Year campaign. One thing is sure: she will have to take more shots in the next game if she wants to make her place in this talented Wings roster. The Wings will now play the Atlanta Dream in the next game.
READ MORE: “I Don’t Need To Change That”: Azzi Fudd Shares Major Realization Amid Early WNBA Struggles
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