The Dallas Wings‘ first practice of the 2026 WNBA season was always going to carry intrigue. But instead of lingering on the off-court questions that surfaced earlier in the week, Paige Bueckers made it clear the focus has already shifted to what matters most.
Days after a team official declined to address a question about her relationship with Azzi Fudd during the rookie’s introductory press conference, Bueckers spoke openly about what the reunion means on the court. Her tone was simple and direct, grounded in years of shared experience.
“Obviously, we have a lot of experience going back to, shoot, when we were like 16 playing together,” Bueckers said. “I know her game really well, she knows my game really well, so to be able to be back in this stage to live out our dreams… it’s just a dream come true.”
The comment was more than a reflection. It was a reset. Bueckers and Fudd‘s connection did not begin in Dallas.
It dates back to their teenage years with USA Basketball, where both players emerged as elite prospects. That familiarity continued at UConn, where they eventually helped deliver a national championship in 2025.
Now reunited again after the Wings selected Fudd with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, the duo arrives with a level of chemistry that most professional pairings take years to develop. That continuity could be a defining advantage for a team that struggled last season.
“In terms of the basketball aspect of it, she just affects the game in so many different ways,” Bueckers said of Fudd.
“Everybody talks about her shooting, but it’s her ability to slash, to cut, her IQ. Defensively, she disrupts a lot of stuff… just having her on the floor, she’ll do a lot of great things for us.”
Fudd‘s shooting, particularly from three-point range, is expected to stretch defenses, while Bueckers‘ playmaking creates opportunities across the floor. On paper, it is a natural fit. In practice, it could be transformative.
Moving past distractions and into expectations
The attention surrounding their personal lives briefly threatened to overshadow that potential. The Wings‘ decision to shut down questions at Fudd‘s introductory press conference only amplified the spotlight.
But internally, the message appears consistent. Keep the focus on basketball. Fudd echoed that mindset immediately after being drafted.
“I’m so excited to play again with Paige,” she said. “She’s an incredible person, an incredible player and it’s gonna be a lot of fun.”
That familiarity is not just about comfort. It is about trust. And for a young team trying to rebound from a 10-34 season, that trust could accelerate development.
A new chapter for a rebuilding team
Dallas enters the 2026 season looking to reshape its identity. After a difficult campaign, the arrival of Fudd alongside Bueckers signals a shift toward a younger, more dynamic core. There is also a sense of unfinished business between the two players.
“This is stuff we talked about since we were freshmen in high school,” Bueckers said.
That shared vision now carries into the professional game, where expectations are inevitably higher and patience is often shorter.
But for the Wings, the path forward feels clearer. The headlines may have started off the court, but they are unlikely to stay there for long.
If the early signs hold, Dallas‘ story this season will be defined by what Bueckers and Fudd build together, not what surrounds them.
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