Azzi Fudd, the number one overall pick in the 2026 WNBA draft, made her debut for the Dallas Wings in Dallas’ 107-104 win over the Indiana Fever on Saturday. Unfortunately, Fudd didn’t leave as strong aas an impact as she may have hoped.
After surprisingly being left out of the starting lineup, Fudd scored only three points off the bench in 18 minutes of game action. Now, we may have an explanation for the slow start to Fudd’s career.
On Monday, the WNBA downgraded Fudd from healthy to”questionable,” as she popped up on its injury report ahead of Tuesday’s game between the Wings and the Atlanta Dream. Fudd’s knee, which she has had issues with in both high school and her time in college with the UConn Huskies, is troubling her again.
Even if she’s cleared to play, don’t expect Fudd to be in the starting lineup. Dallas head coach Jose Fernando is in no rush to speed up her development.
“Is she capable of (starting)? Yes, she is,” Fernandez told the media on Monday. “When it does happen, I think she’ll be ready.”
“I don’t think about it that way. Is she capable of doing that? Yes, she is … When it does happens, I think she’ll be ready,” Fernandez said, according Wings reporter Drake Keeler. Although the first-year head coach conceded that he can do more to help her find her footing.
“The other thing, when she gets in and she’s a shooter, I gotta get her more involved, get her some looks, but you got to give other teams credit too. Other teams prepare for really good players.”
Hopefully, Fudd will be on the floor and healthy in Tuesday night, but regardless, it’s clear that Dallas’ plan is to be patient as she develops.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.