The top of the 2026 WNBA Draft finally comes with real intrigue, and the Dallas Wings are at the center of it. After winning the draft lottery for the second consecutive year, Dallas will select first overall in April, but unlike recent drafts, there is no consensus choice.
With Paige Bueckers already in place as the reigning Rookie of the Year and the clear face of the franchise, the Wings are now tasked with finding the right complement to accelerate the rebuild of the league’s worst team. One option that immediately captures attention is UConn guard Azzi Fudd, a former teammate of Bueckers and one of the most feared shooters in college basketball. Fudd‘s appeal is obvious.
She is an elite perimeter threat at a time when WNBA offenses are increasingly built around spacing and volume three-point shooting. This season, she is converting better than 54 percent of her attempts from deep and has been nearly automatic on unguarded catch-and-shoot looks. Over her UConn career, she has shot more than 42 percent from three on significant volume, a level of efficiency that would instantly place her among the league’s top shooters.
A familiarity that cannot be matched
Beyond the numbers, the familiarity between Fudd and Bueckers is a major selling point. They already understand each other’s tendencies, timing and preferred spots on the floor, something that usually takes years to develop at the professional level. During their time together at UConn, they went 44-5 and helped deliver a national championship, showing how dangerous they can be when sharing the backcourt.
For a Dallas team desperate to turn losses into wins quickly, that built-in chemistry could help the Wings hit the ground running. Still, selecting Fudd first overall comes with legitimate concerns. Her injury history is extensive, including multiple knee injuries and long stretches sidelined since arriving at UConn.
She has played only 85 games over four-plus seasons, and durability questions cannot be ignored for a team already trying to escape the bottom of the standings. There are also lingering questions about how much more she offers beyond shooting. Much of her offensive value comes from spot-up opportunities, and her ability to consistently create off the dribble or finish at the rim remains a work in progress.
A Spanish center could be the best option
That is why Spanish center Awa Fam may ultimately make more sense as the cornerstone pick for Dallas. Fam represents the opposite profile: younger, rawer and overflowing with long-term upside. She will still be 19 on draft night and does not turn 20 until her rookie season is already underway, giving her a development runway that few players in this class can match.
By the time her rookie contract ends, she would barely be older than Fudd is now, a factor that matters for a franchise building toward sustained relevance rather than a quick fix. Fam also fits the modern WNBA mold. At 6-foot-4 with a long wingspan and impressive mobility, she projects as a versatile big who can score inside, facilitate out of the pick-and-roll and defend multiple positions.
Her ability to handle the ball and make plays as a passer stands out for a player her age, and she already shows comfort operating in space. While her jump shot is still developing, she has flashed potential from beyond the arc in EuroLeague play and has openly acknowledged that improving as a shooter is a priority. Defensively, Fam has the physical tools to become impactful at the professional level, even if consistency and aggression remain areas for growth.
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