The 2026 WNBA Draft delivered exactly what the basketball world had been hoping for. The Dallas Wings used the No. 1 overall pick on Monday night to select UConn superstar Azzi Fudd, reuniting her with her girlfriend Paige Bueckers.
The pair will once again make one of the best backcourts in the country after dominating the college basketball scene with UConn. For Fudd, the moment closed a chapter at UConn and opened a new one in Dallas, where she will now play alongside the same person she spent years competing beside in Storrs.
Azzi Fudd Heads to the Dallas Wings to Join Old UConn Teammate
Dallas wasted no time making their choice when they went on the clock at The Shed at Hudson Yards in New York City. The Wings held the No. 1 pick for the second consecutive year after finishing with a 10-34 record last season. Fudd seemed like the clear choice. And she has been one of the biggest undisputed No. 1 picks in recent years.
There is no doubt that her on-court chemistry and connection with Bueckers would have also contributed to Dallas selecting the UConn guard. The 2025 ROTY winner was also in attendance to see her partner’s dream be fulfilled.
Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd at the 2025 WNBA Draft.
It’s Azzi’s turn now 🥹 pic.twitter.com/8CCgnD8nAP
— Athlete Vanity (@AthleteVanity) April 13, 2026
Fudd finished her final season at UConn, averaging 17.3 points per game while shooting 44.7 percent from three on 263 attempts.
She is considered one of the greatest shooting prospects to enter the WNBA in years, and Dallas built their entire offseason around the idea of pairing that skill set with Bueckers. Under the league’s new collective bargaining agreement, Fudd will earn a record $500,000 in her rookie season.
WNBA World Reacts to Dallas’ Latest No. 1 Pick
The Wings’ decision to draft Fudd certainly made waves on social media. FanDuel wrote on X, “The new trio in Dallas,” along with an image of Fudd, Bueckers, and Arike Ogunbowale. The Wings also re-signed her, which isn’t all that surprising considering she is the franchise’s all-time leading scorer.
The new trio in Dallas 😤 pic.twitter.com/sTBbs4tsAd
— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) April 13, 2026
The Wings also welcomed Alanna Smith on a three-year deal, as well as center Jessica Shepard. The pair will relocate from Minnesota to Texas.
As expected Azzi Fudd is headed to Dallas with Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale! https://t.co/LSGz9ovdZH
— OutKick (@Outkick) April 13, 2026
OutKick also mentioned on X, “As expected Azzi Fudd is headed to Dallas with Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale!”
Paige and Azzi back on the same team again 💙🐺🔥 https://t.co/r0NqZzn50K
— Husky Report (@TheHuskyReport_) April 13, 2026
Husky Report, a fan page of the UConn Huskies, also said on X, “Paige and Azzi back on the same team again.”
Dallas basketball is in very good hands for the near future. Star power across the board with Coop, Paige, and now adding the People’s Princess into the mix. This rules. https://t.co/TEMWNRrEh8
— Alec Medford (@AlecOnTheRadio) April 13, 2026
Basketball analyst Alec Medford also said, “Dallas basketball is in very good hands for the near future. Star power across the board with Coop, Paige, and now adding the People’s Princess into the mix. This rules.”
That certainly is an interesting point. The city of Dallas has been fortunate to draft the first pick two years running. Cooper Flagg was the No. 1 pick for the Mavericks last year, along with Bueckers. Now, the Wings have been able to welcome Fudd to a loaded roster that is surely capable of fighting for the chip.The personal dimension of the Fudd pick adds a layer to the story that no other WNBA draft pick can match. Bueckers and Fudd’s relationship has been public for some time, and the two have now gone from college teammates to professional teammates.Fudd addressed the UConn fanbase in the days leading up to the draft, noting the kind of following Huskies players carry with them wherever they go. That loyalty now follows her to Dallas, where the Wings will be counting on two former UConn stars to end years of playoff drought and build something sustainable.
