The Dallas Wings once again hold the top pick in the WNBA Draft — and one of the sport’s most respected voices believes the franchise’s best option is the player who already shares a rare, tested chemistry with their cornerstone.

Dallas secured the No. 1 pick for the 2026 WNBA Draft on Sunday, marking the second consecutive year the franchise has won the lottery. The Wings used last year’s selection on Paige Bueckers, who immediately became an All-Star and the 2025 Rookie of the Year. Now, as the franchise maps out its future, the question becomes whether they will reunite Bueckers with her most natural backcourt partner: UConn guard Azzi Fudd.

Rebecca Lobo made her stance clear during ESPN’s lottery broadcast on November 23, and her reasoning centered on both familiarity and fit.

Before she broke down the basketball side of the equation, Lobo acknowledged the emotional jolt that such a pairing would send through an entire fan base.

“First of all, I think the entire state of Connecticut and any UConn Husky fan across the country are thrilled with the notion that Azzi Fudd could potentially rejoin Paige Bueckers down in Dallas,” Lobo said.

Lobo then shifted to what makes the idea compelling for the Wings themselves — the simple fact that Bueckers and Fudd have already shown they elevate one another.

“And I do think she would be a phenomenal fit there just because we saw how good those two were together on the court over the past couple of years,” Lobo said.

But her strongest point had nothing to do with nostalgia. It was about roster construction and one of Dallas’ most glaring weaknesses last season: perimeter shooting. The Wings finished near the bottom of the WNBA in three-point percentage, and Lobo argued that Fudd’s elite scoring profile would immediately change that.

“But to me, Azzi Fudd, because of her ability to score and the way she can shoot — the Dallas team that was second to last a season ago in terms of three-point field goal percentage — right away you can bring in an efficient scorer,” Lobo said.

Fudd’s shooting ability is well-documented, but Lobo emphasized something else: efficiency. With the spacing Dallas lacked and the attention Bueckers already commands, Fudd’s shotmaking could transform the offense from day one. And unlike many prospects who require time to adapt to a new backcourt, Fudd would be stepping into a partnership she’s already mastered.

“And we already know that those two, Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd, have an incredible connection,” Lobo said.

The idea of reuniting the former Huskies stars has quickly become one of the defining storylines following the lottery results. While the 2026 class includes centers Lauren Betts and Awa Fam — both projected in various places across early mock drafts — Lobo’s position underscores why Fudd stands out uniquely for Dallas.

The Wings are not simply adding a top talent. They are shaping the next decade of their franchise around Bueckers, a player whose on-court feel and playmaking can dictate the style of an entire team. Fudd complements that vision, bringing movement shooting, off-ball gravity and scoring versatility that fits precisely where Dallas struggled.

With a young roster, a new coach in José Fernandez and back-to-back No. 1 picks for the first time in franchise history, Dallas now faces a decision that blends fit, philosophy and long-term planning. While the front office will evaluate every top prospect in the months ahead, Lobo’s message was unequivocal: if the Wings want shooting, synergy and a seamless pairing with their franchise star, Fudd is the pick who makes everything click.

She may not be the universal projection at No. 1 — but in Lobo’s eyes, she is the one who makes the most sense in Dallas.