By Blessing Nweke
Dallas Wings rookie guard Azzi Fudd will undergo season-ending arthroscopic surgery on her right knee next week after soreness sidelined the No. 1 overall pick for the past five games.
The Wings announced Wednesday that Fudd will have the procedure in Connecticut, where she became a star at UConn before being selected first overall by Dallas in this year’s WNBA draft. She followed Paige Bueckers, last year’s No. 1 pick and her former UConn teammate, as the Wings’ top selection.
Fudd began her rookie season cautiously, coming off the bench during Dallas’ first six games. She quickly earned a starting role after scoring 24 points in her sixth appearance. She later recorded a season-high 26 points during a June victory over the Seattle Storm.
The 23-year-old averaged 13.1 points over 30 games and emerged as an important part of the Wings’ rotation. She participated in warmups before Dallas’ Aug. 7 home game against Golden State but was held out as a precaution. The knee soreness persisted, eventually leading the team and Fudd to opt for surgery.
Fudd and Bueckers were teammates on UConn’s 2025 national championship team before both became top picks for Dallas in consecutive drafts.
Despite losing Fudd for the remainder of the season, Dallas remains in contention for the playoffs. The Wings are 3-8 since ending a six-game winning streak, but they remain positioned to make the postseason for the first time since 2023.
Dallas will face Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever Thursday night at the home of the Dallas Mavericks.
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