The Dallas Wings are now 1-1 for the season after losing the last game to the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday. The team’s spirits could definitely be lifted instantly if star rookie Azzi Fudd returns to the floor.
The No. 1 overall pick has played just one game so far, an 18-minute cameo off the bench in the season-opening road win over the Indiana Fever, and her availability for tonight’s game against the Minnesota Lynx has been the dominant question around this team for the past two days.
What Is Azzi Fudd’s Injury Status?
There is positive news to report heading into tip-off, though the final word still has not been given.
Fudd went through Thursday’s morning shootaround at College Park Center, taking full-speed reps and getting shots up, according to Dallas Hoops Journal’s Grant Afseth.
She remains officially listed as questionable with a right knee injury on the Wings’ Thursday injury report, but the progression from Wednesday’s walkthrough to participating in actual shootaround activity is a meaningful step in the right direction.
Head coach Jose Fernandez has delivered a cryptic message on Fudd’s potential return.
“She walked through today, and she shot. So we’ll see how tonight goes and how she gets through shootaround, and then see how she feels and what our medical staff says. So we’ll see,” Fernandez said.
The problem started on Tuesday when Fudd was downgraded from probable to out just hours before tip-off against the Dream. Fernandez addressed the move at his media availability. He framed it as a precautionary decision rather than a reaction to anything that happened in practice or in the season opener.
“In the opening night, out of an abundance of caution and her long-term health, we’re keeping her out tonight,” Fernandez said before Tuesday’s game.
One important note that Fernandez wanted to put on the record is that the Wings’ front office, strength and conditioning staff, and sports medicine team had no concerns whatsoever about Fudd’s knee during the pre-draft process before Dallas used the top pick on her.
The organization views this entirely as managing a rookie through a long professional season after she came off an extended collegiate postseason run at UConn. “There weren’t any concerns whatsoever,” Fernandez said regarding the knee during the draft evaluation process.
Fudd showed a glimpse of what she brings in her debut on May 9, scoring three points on her first career WNBA three-pointer in 18 minutes off the bench during the 107-104 win over Indiana.
The former UConn guard was brought to Dallas to complement Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale, and the Wings have not been able to get all three on the floor consistently yet through their first three games.
Napheesa Collier remains sidelined for the Lynx. If Fudd clears the medical evaluation and plays tonight, it will be the first time Wings fans get a full look at what this roster is actually capable of.
