The 2026 WNBA Draft delivered a storybook moment for UConn basketball and the Dallas Wings. As many predicted, All-American guard Azzi Fudd heard her name called first overall, officially becoming the seventh UConn Husky to earn the coveted No. 1 pick. She joins an elite lineage of legends including Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, and her new Dallas teammate, Paige Bueckers.

This selection marks a thrilling reunion for one of college basketball's most dynamic duos. Fudd and Bueckers, who shared the backcourt for the Huskies, will now team up to electrify the professional stage. "I am excited to play again with Paige, incredible player, incredible person," Fudd told ESPN after her selection, with Bueckers and the entire UConn squad cheering her on from the crowd.

Fudd's collegiate resume is nothing short of spectacular. The 5-foot-11 sharpshooter was the engine behind UConn's dominant 54-game winning streak over the last two seasons, culminating in the 2025 national championship where she was named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player. Though the Huskies' run ended in the 2026 national semifinals, Fudd is carrying a champion's mindset to the pros.

"All those habits, that championship, that winning mentality, I have to be able to bring those with me," she reflected. For the Dallas Wings, landing a player of Fudd's caliber and competitive pedigree is a franchise-altering move, promising an explosive and highly skilled backcourt for years to come.