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Dallas Selects Azzi Fudd No. 1, Reuniting Her With Paige Bueckers

A new labor deal lifted pay, changing how clubs used their picks.

Overview

  • Fudd, chosen Monday at the WNBA Draft in New York, will earn a reported $500,000 as a rookie under the new CBA, which also raised team caps to $7 million and set a $270,000 minimum salary.
  • Wings leaders said they drafted Fudd for her elite shooting, quick release, off‑ball movement and locker‑room presence, noting their free‑agency additions up front made a guard the better fit.
  • Online debate questioned whether her relationship with Bueckers influenced the choice, but Dallas officials said they evaluated each player on her own merits and prioritized on‑court fit.
  • The Lynx took TCU guard Olivia Miles at No. 2 and the Storm picked Spanish center Awa Fam at No. 3, and the Golden State Valkyries traded No. 8 pick Flau'jae Johnson to Seattle for Marta Suarez and a 2028 second‑rounder.
  • UCLA set a draft record with five first‑rounders and six total selections, underscoring how powerhouse college programs continue to shape the league’s talent pipeline.