Wings’ Azzi Fudd taking next step with a WNBA first vs. reigning champs Aces

Azzi Fudd will make the first start of her WNBA career Thursday night when the Dallas Wings host the defending champion Las Vegas Aces, a move that comes days after the rookie delivered a breakout performance against the New York Liberty.

According to ESPN’s Alexa Philippou, the 2026 No. 1 overall pick is set to join Dallas’ starting lineup for the first time. While the Wings have dealt with illnesses affecting multiple starters, Fudd was expected to start regardless of those players’ availability.

Azzi Fudd will make her first career start when the Wings take on the Aces tonight, per @alexaphilippou.

She scored a career-high 24 points off the bench in her last outing against the Liberty. pic.twitter.com/4DM00wbNaX

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 28, 2026

The promotion follows the strongest game of Fudd’s young professional career. In Dallas’ 91-76 win over New York on May 24, the rookie guard scored a career-high 24 points while shooting 9-for-15 from the field and 6-for-12 from 3-point range.

Fudd’s six made 3-pointers established a Wings rookie franchise record. She also scored 17 points in the third quarter alone, tying for the second-highest scoring quarter by a rookie since the WNBA adopted quarter-based play in 2006.

The game marked a significant step forward for a player who entered the season facing questions after being selected first overall ahead of Olivia Miles and Awa Fam. Before the Liberty game, Fudd averaged 8.4 points per contest and had not attempted more than 10 shots in a game.

She also contributed three assists, three steals, two rebounds and two blocks against New York while posting a plus-22 rating in a season-high 32 minutes.

After that game, Wings coach Jose Fernandez had suggested a starting role could be on the horizon.

The Wings own a 122.1 offensive rating with Fudd on the floor compared to 96 when she is off the court, while Dallas outscores opponents by 17.2 points per 100 possessions during her minutes.

The Wings enter Thursday’s matchup at 4-3, while Las Vegas arrives with a 4-2 record and a four-game road winning streak.

Information from the Associated Press contributed to this article. 

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