Wings encouraged to pair Paige Bueckers with ‘best shooter in America’ after WNBA draft lottery

The Dallas Wings won the 2026 WNBA Draft lottery on Sunday night, marking the seventh occasion in league history where a team has won the lottery — and the right to pick first overall — in consecutive seasons.

Though Wings general manager Curt Miller already has received calls about trading the #1 pick, observers around the WNBA expect Dallas will stick and pick at the top of a loaded 2026 draft. But the player that the Wings will select remains unknown.

There is no consensus yet on the top pick in the draft, which takes place April 13. Unlike the 2023, 2024 and 2025 drafts, multiple players are in the conversation to go #1 overall at this point in time 

Fudd-to-Dallas campaign begins

ESPN’s new post-lottery mock draft predicts that Dallas will take Connecticut Huskies sharpshooter Azzi Fudd, who is averaging 21 points per game this season and shooting 54.8 percent from 3-point territory.

Fudd, who was named the Most Outstanding Player at last season’s Final Four, has battled injuries throughout her college career, including a torn ACL that cost her much of the 2023/24 season. But she is playing the best basketball of her life this season for the top-ranked Huskies — and her off-court relationship with Wings star Paige Bueckers has fans dreaming of a new-look backcourt in Dallas already.

“The Wings pairing Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd is not only box office, but Fudd is an ELITE shooter and playing off Bueckers with her shot making and passing will create nightmares,” wrote DLLS Sports’ Kevin Gray Jr.

The Wings picking Fudd first overall would not simply be a move to placate Bueckers. Fudd has hit another level in the first weeks of the 2025/26 NCAA women’s basketball season as she tries to lead UConn to another national championship. In a 93-41 win over Utah on Sunday, Fudd scored 24 points on only 11 shots and hauled in a career-high eight rebounds.

“With all due respect, It’s gotta be Azzi,” wrote @TakeFlightWNBA on X. “(She) fllls an immediate need (3 point shooting), is proven with Paige, we can fill the post need in free agency, is one of the best three point shooters ever.”

As long as Fudd remains healthy, she will have every chance to continue enhancing her draft stock — which could end high enough for Dallas to make her the slam-dunk #1 pick in April.

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