Main Story: Paige Bueckers says she and Azzi Fudd ended their relationship more than a year ago, before the Dallas Wings drafted Fudd. Bueckers said Fudd earned her spot on merit, and the two remain friends—pushing back on speculation that Dallas made the pick to please its star guard.

By the Numbers
  • Fudd averaged 13.1 points per game as a rookie.
  • She played 30 games before right-knee surgery.
  • Bueckers is a two-time All-Star and the 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year.
Yes, But

The Wings initially blocked Fudd from answering questions about the relationship, and Bueckers later addressed it without sharing details. Their past relationship fueled questions about whether it influenced Dallas’ draft decision.

Bottom Line

Bueckers says the draft choice was about Fudd’s basketball ability, not their former relationship; Fudd’s rookie-season production offers a measure of the case for her selection.