rewrite this content and keep HTML tags (remove this from content : rewrite this content and keep HTML tags)
The Dallas Wings’ decision with the No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft remains fluid, but a growing number of prominent voices continue to elevate UConn guard Azzi Fudd as a leading option. On Wednesday’s episode of NBA Today, Chiney Ogwumike became the latest to endorse her candidacy — and did so emphatically.
Discussing the state of the Wings’ draft board, Ogwumike pointed to the skill she believes is most dependable for immediate translation to the pro level.
“With the number one pick still being up for grabs, that situation being fluid, one thing that translates in the WNBA is shooting,” Ogwumike said on NBA Today. “I would not be surprised if Azzi Fudd is the number one pick. She’s someone that’s leading them in scoring so far and has had multiple games with multiple threes. So she’s a shooter, and that’s good.”
When asked whether she views Fudd as the top shooter in the class, Ogwumike did not hesitate.
“They should shoot their shot at that,” she said. “One of the best, if not the best shooter in the draft. Right.”
Azzi Fudd’s Showcase Surge Adds Fuel to Her Draft Rise
Fudd’s momentum has only strengthened following a dominant performance at the Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase. She scored 24 points and grabbed a career-high eight rebounds in three quarters as top-ranked UConn defeated Utah 93–41, finishing as the event’s only undefeated team.
The outing capped a two-game stretch in which Fudd scored 55 points, including a season-high 31 points in a win over No. 6 Michigan. She consistently changed the game’s pace, burying threes, sparking runs, and anchoring UConn’s transition bursts.
UConn’s defense overwhelmed Utah early, forcing three turnovers in the first 3:40 and generating 18 first-half points off turnovers. Fudd, Sarah Strong, and Blanca Quinonez combined to power a 14–0 run, and Fudd drilled two threes to key a 20–0 third-quarter surge.
Early National Endorsements Began on Lottery Night
Ogwumike’s comments add to the conversation that began during the WNBA Draft Lottery broadcast on ESPN, where Rebecca Lobo publicly raised the possibility of Fudd reuniting with Paige Bueckers in Dallas.
“I think the entire state of Connecticut and any UConn Husky fan across the country are thrilled with the notion that Azzi Fudd could potentially rejoin Paige Bueckers down in Dallas,” Lobo said during the lottery broadcast. She added that Fudd’s scoring efficiency and chemistry with Bueckers make her a natural fit.
Wings general manager Curt Miller — also speaking to reporters on the night of the WNBA Draft Lottery — called the No. 1 pick a “huge momentum moment” for the franchise and hinted at the importance of shooting in this class.
While discussing the broader talent pool, Miller noted the presence of “one of the best shooters with one of the fastest releases,” a description that aligns cleanly with Fudd’s profile.
Miller also emphasized cultural fit and the importance of building around Bueckers.
“It all starts with who’s going to be a great teammate,” Miller said. “Culture is important. We want to win in the locker room before we win on the court.”
And on Bueckers’ impact: “Paige is a magnet,” Miller said. “People want to play with great players.”
Momentum Is Shifting Toward a Familiar Narrative
The Wings will evaluate the top of the draft board throughout free agency, the expansion draft, and the college season, but the early outline of the decision is taking shape. Dallas needs shooting, Ogwumike believes Fudd provides it at an elite level, and public endorsements are growing.
Between her showcase surge, ESPN’s projection shift, Lobo’s initial push on draft night, Miller’s emphasis on shooting, and Ogwumike’s latest comments on NBA Today, Fudd’s candidacy for the No. 1 pick continues to strengthen.
And for now, no prospect sits more squarely in the center of Dallas’ decision-making than Azzi Fudd.
