Azzi Fudd stands projected as the top WNBA draft pick. A potential reunion with Paige Bueckers could reshape the Dallas Wings.
ESPN’s latest WNBA mock draft has a familiar name at the top.
According to ESPN analyst Michael Voepel, Azzi Fudd remains the projected No. 1 overall pick, with the Dallas Wings expected to select the UConn guard if the draft were held today.
It is not a surprising projection. Fudd is in the middle of a dominant senior campaign at the University of Connecticut, averaging 17.5 points per game while shooting 45.5% from three-point range.
UConn’s unbeaten run has only strengthened her résumé, and her ability to space the floor at an elite level makes her one of the most pro-ready perimeter scorers in the class. The potential storyline, however, goes beyond production.
A No. 1 selection by Dallas would reunite Fudd with former Huskies teammate Paige Bueckers, the 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year. The pair developed strong on-court chemistry in Storrs, and a professional reunion would instantly give the Wings one of the league’s most marketable young backcourts.
From a basketball standpoint, the fit is logical. Fudd’s off-ball shooting and defensive discipline would complement Bueckers’ playmaking and scoring versatility. Dallas, which secured the top pick in the 2026 draft order, would add a high-IQ guard capable of contributing immediately.
Still, the reaction among segments of the Wings’ fanbase has been more measured than the national excitement suggests.
While many analysts view the reunion as a seamless basketball move, some supporters have questioned whether nostalgia should drive roster-building decisions. With the WNBA offseason clouded by ongoing collective bargaining negotiations and widespread free agency uncertainty, roster needs remain fluid.
Expansion teams and pending CBA outcomes could significantly reshape team construction before draft night. In other words, projecting fit right now requires assumptions.
What remains certain is Fudd’s profile as a top-tier prospect. Her shooting efficiency, positional size at 5-foot-11, and defensive awareness translate cleanly to the professional level. UConn’s developmental pedigree also carries weight in league circles, given the success of former Huskies in the WNBA.
March basketball could still influence draft positioning, as it often does. But for now, ESPN’s board is clear, and Azzi Fudd sits at No. 1.
Whether Dallas ultimately prioritizes continuity with Bueckers or pivots based on evolving roster dynamics will be one of the defining decisions of the 2026 WNBA draft cycle.