Sport Business US & Canada

Azzi Fudd Goes No. 1

Azzi Fudd Goes No. 1

Azzi Fudd's selection by the Dallas Wings reunites her with former UConn teammate and girlfriend Paige Bueckers, who was the top pick in the previous year's draft.

Fudd enters the league as one of the most efficient shooters in college basketball history, having led the Huskies to a national title and multiple Final Four appearances.

Her record-breaking salary is hundreds of thousands more than what previous top picks received, signaling a new era of professional compensation for women's basketball players.

The 2026 draft class is widely considered one of the deepest in years, with players like Kiki Rice and Lauren Betts also securing top positions.

Azzi Fudd Gamecock Central, CC BY 2.0
Azzi Fudd
American basketball player
Dallas Wings
American professional women's basketball team based in Arlington, Texas
Women's National Basketball Association
Professional women's basketball league in the United States
Paige Bueckers
American basketball player (born 2001)
University of Connecticut School of Medicine
School within the University of Connecticut