The Dallas Wings are building a powerhouse backcourt straight out of Storrs, selecting UConn superstar Azzi Fudd with the first overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft. This marks the second consecutive year the Wings have used the top pick on a Husky guard, pairing Fudd with last year's No. 1 selection, Paige Bueckers.

Fudd's selection cements her place in legendary company, becoming the seventh UConn player to be chosen first overall. She joins an iconic list that includes Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Tina Charles, Maya Moore, Breanna Stewart, and her now-teammate, Bueckers.

Her journey to the top pick is a story of resilience. After early career challenges with injuries, Fudd finished her collegiate career with a storybook flourish. She capped it off by leading UConn to its first national championship since 2016, earning Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors after averaging 21.5 points in Tampa.

This past season, Fudd fully embraced a starring role, posting career-high averages of 17.3 points, 3.1 assists, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.5 steals while leading the Huskies through an undefeated regular season. A consensus First Team All-American, she also etched her name in the record books as one of the most prolific shooters in program history, finishing with the second-most three-pointers in a single season.

The mission in Dallas is clear: revive a franchise hungry for success. Despite Bueckers winning Rookie of the Year, the Wings struggled to a 10-34 record. Now, under new head coach Jose Fernandez—a confidant of UConn's Geno Auriemma—the Wings are betting that the proven chemistry between Fudd and Bueckers can spark a dramatic turnaround and bring winning basketball back to Dallas.