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Dallas Wings Select Azzi Fudd as No. 1 Pick in 2026 WNBA Draft, Reuniting Her with Paige Bueckers
The Dallas Wings chose Azzi Fudd first overall in the 2026 WNBA Draft on April 13, 2026, at The Shed in New York. This selection reunites Fudd with her former UConn teammate and girlfriend Paige Bueckers, the previous year's top pick. Fudd's rookie salary under the new collective bargaining agreement totals $500,000, a significant increase from Bueckers' $78,831.
Apr 13, 9:37 PM·2m read2 sources
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The Dallas Wings selected Azzi Fudd as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft held on April 13, 2026, at The Shed in New York. Fudd, a former UConn star, joins the team after leading the Huskies to a national championship in the 2024-25 season.
This marks the second consecutive year the Wings hold the top pick. Paige Bueckers, the Wings' No. 1 selection from the previous year, was present at the draft and reacted positively to Fudd's selection.
Bueckers and Fudd were teammates at UConn from 2021 through 2025. Their reunion on the Wings roster highlights the team's recent draft strategy. Fudd's selection comes amid changes to the WNBA's rookie pay scale under a new collective bargaining agreement implemented in the offseason.
Under the prior agreement, the No. 1 pick earned approximately $78,831. Fudd's rookie salary is set at $500,000, representing a significant increase over Bueckers' rookie earnings.
The new collective bargaining agreement has raised salaries across the league, with rookies receiving substantial increases.
The updated rookie pay scale includes: No. 1 pick at $500,000, No. 2 at $466,913, No. 3 at $436,016, No. 4 at $407,163, No. 5 at $380,219, No. 6 at $355,058, No. 7 at $331,563, and No. 8 at $309,622.
Picks from No. 9 to 12 earn $289,133 or more, while second- and third-round selections receive $270,000. These changes apply to all players but particularly benefit rookies entering the league. The Wings' commitment to Fudd reflects the higher financial obligations under the updated scale.
“I don’t really have words,” she said. “I couldn’t imagine the feeling of sitting there with my family … I’m so grateful.” Fudd believes she’ll fit in well with the Wings backcourt. “They’ve been able to see how I’m a team mentality, we-over-me mentality,” Fudd said. “I know how to play with great players. I know how to space the floor, I know how to move without the ball … I’m just excited.”
