History repeated itself in the WNBA Draft on Monday night, as the Dallas Wings selected UConn sharpshooter Azzi Fudd with the first overall pick in 2026. The moment not only crowned a new professional star but also set the stage for a dream reunion in Dallas.
Fudd, dazzling in a custom gold sequined gown, follows her former Huskies teammate Paige Bueckers, who was taken first by the Wings just a year earlier in 2025. Together, they led UConn to an NCAA Championship, and now they become the first college teammates ever to be drafted No. 1 overall to the same WNBA franchise in consecutive years. This elite pairing echoes UConn's legacy of producing back-to-back top picks, a feat previously accomplished only by Tina Charles and Maya Moore in 2010 and 2011.
By joining Bueckers in Dallas, Fudd enters a franchise poised for an electric future. Their chemistry, forged in championship pressure at UConn, promises to be an instant asset for the Wings and a must-watch storyline for the league.
Fudd's selection cements her place among the all-time UConn greats, becoming the program's seventh No. 1 overall pick. She now stands alongside legends like Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Breanna Stewart, and of course, her new teammate Bueckers—a group that collectively boasts 14 WNBA titles and 46 All-Star appearances.
Her draft night was historic on multiple fronts. As the first No. 1 pick under the league's new collective bargaining agreement, Fudd is set to become the highest-paid rookie in WNBA history, with a base salary of $500,000. She also carries on a family legacy, becoming just the second second-generation player ever drafted into the WNBA, following in the footsteps of her mother, Katie Smrcka-Duffy Fudd.
On the court, Fudd arrives in the league at the peak of her powers. After battling injuries earlier in her collegiate career, her redshirt senior season was a masterpiece of efficiency and scoring. She averaged 17.3 points per game and led the entire nation with 117 made three-pointers, shooting a blistering 44.7% from beyond the arc. Her lethal shooting and championship pedigree make her an immediate impact player for a Dallas team looking to build a dynasty.
For fans of the game and especially for those who love the iconic UConn legacy, the reunion of Bueckers and Fudd in Dallas is more than just a draft story—it's the beginning of a new chapter in women's basketball. The Wings' backcourt just got a whole lot more dangerous, and the future in Dallas has never looked brighter.