Usually, it takes a couple of years to determine if the first round of any draft is a success for a team. The WNBA is no exception. For decades, the league’s struggling teams have had the opportunity to build their roster with a potential cornerstone player. However, drafting remains an inexact science, filled with some decisions that never pan out.
This year, the Dallas Wings owned the first-overall pick. They selected Azzi Fudd, one of Bueckers’ college teammates. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Lynx selected Notre Dame/TCU guard Olivia Miles. So far, the production of each has raised eyebrows for different reasons. A WNBA analyst draws a historical parallel regarding their respective drafts.
WNBA Analyst Sees Azzi Fudd/Olivia Miles Drafts as Kevin Durant/Greg Oden Picks
The Lynx sit at the top of the league standings. With a fairly comfortable league over the Golden State Valkyries, many believe that Minnesota is the odds-on favorite to win the WNBA championship. Front Office Sports writer Ryan Glasspiegel tweeted the equivalence.
“Is Azzi Fudd over Olivia Miles going to wind up being the Oden/Durant of the WNBA? It’s on an ominous path.”
Is Azzi Fudd over Olivia Miles going to wind up being the Oden/Durant of the WNBA? It’s on an ominous path.
— Ryan Glasspiegel (@sportsrapport) August 20, 2026
For context, Oden, the Ohio State center standout, led the Big Ten with 3.3 blocks and 9.6 rebounds while shooting 61.6% from the field.
In 2007, the Portland Trail Blazers selected him with the No. 1 pick of that year’s draft. The very next selection saw the Seattle SuperSonics select Durant. The Texas sharpshooter effectively swept the major award the same season while scoring 25.8 points per game and pulling down 11.1 rebounds.
This season, Miles is averaging 19.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 6.2 assists while shooting 50.3% from the field. Before a season-ending knee injury, Fudd averaged 13.1 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.8 assists each night. The differences could not be starker between the WNBA rookies. Yet, does Glasspiegel’s assertion fit?
Oden missed his rookie season with a knee injury. In contrast, Durant won Rookie of the Year. Over the next six seasons, injuries limited Oden to just 105 games, missing three full years in the process. Oden’s career ended in 2014, at the age of 26.
On the other hand, Durant established himself as one of the better players in NBA history, making 16 All-Star teams and winning two championships.
Miles looks all but a shoo-in to win Rookie of the Year, and is even gaining MVP attention. Granted, early in their WNBA careers, it could be a little too soon to saddle Fudd with the Oden label, especially after Miles suffered an injury.
That label rests on bad luck, not poor play. When she returns next season, real analysis could possibly begin. The Wings will need her to live up to her draft position. It remains to be seen if she can.
