Azzi Fudd’s 3-Point Contest Win Headlined The Dallas Wings’ All-Star Weekend

ARLINGTON, Texas — Azzi Fudd became the first rookie in league history to win the State Farm WNBA 3-Point Contest on Friday night at Chicago’s Wintrust Arena, beating Bridget Carleton 30-19 in the final round. Fudd is also the first player in Dallas Wings history to win the event, and her 30-point final round is the second-highest finale score in contest history.

Paige Bueckers shared her excitement Tuesday about the franchise having three representatives in Chicago.

“It just speaks to the excitement that we have building here. I think we also have great representation from people who didn’t make the All-Star team and didn’t get to be out there,” Bueckers said. “We feel very confident in who we have on this team.”

She then turned to the contest itself. The team fully expected Fudd to win the contest, and she certainly did not disappoint.

“Obviously, Azzi winning the 3-Point Contest was huge. I think she was the first rookie ever to do it, so that was awesome,” Bueckers said. “We all kind of expected it and knew that’s what she was born to do.”

Wings coach Jose Fernandez traveled to Chicago with his wife for the weekend.

“It was great. There was a lot of representation from the Wings organization in Chicago,” Fernandez said Monday. “My wife and I went to Chicago to support Azzi, and seeing Azzi win the 3-Point Contest was just great as a rookie and for what she did for the organization.”

Paige Bueckers, Jessica Shepard Face Off During All-Star Game

Bueckers and Jessica Shepard played Saturday night, with Shepard and Team Spoon beating Bueckers and Team Coop 129-122.

Shepard finished her first All-Star Game with seven points, five rebounds, five assists, one steal, and one block. Bueckers, in the second All-Star Game of her career, finished with 12 points, seven assists, and one steal.

“Sharing that experience with Jess and being All-Stars together was an awesome experience,” Bueckers said.

Fernandez said the trip was worth making.

“Then Paige and Jess were in the All-Star Game,” he said. “It was good for me to be there, support all three of them, and really show my support for them.”

Curt Miller Praises Azzi Fudd’s Defense

General manager Curt Miller was asked Monday about Fudd’s rookie season.

“I’m also incredibly proud of Azzi winning the All-Star three-point contest. She’s such a complete offensive player who can score at every level, but I don’t think enough people have talked about the defensive season she’s having,” Miller said. “She’s been one of the elite guard defenders in the league this season. What she’s doing on that end has been remarkable, and I’m really happy for her.”

Fudd’s 43 steals are tied for fifth in the WNBA, and her 1.7 steals per game are tied for fifth. She ranks tenth in steal percentage at 2.8 and has 22 blocks. Earlier this season, she became the fastest player since Tamika Catchings to reach 40 three-pointers and 40 steals, doing it in 23 games.

Miller said Dallas held her back early.

“We were intentionally very conservative with her early in the season because she was coming off a long college season and needed time for her body to adjust through training camp,” he said. “What she’s accomplished at both ends of the floor is really what we expected. Defensively, she’s probably a little ahead of schedule.”

“She stepped up on a big stage by winning the three-point contest, and I truly believe she has an incredibly special ceiling and a tremendous career ahead of her,” Miller said.

Where Each Stands Statistically

Fudd is averaging 13.3 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 31.6 minutes across 25 games, shooting 45.9% from the field and 38.8% from three-point range. Her 50 made three-pointers are tied for tenth in the WNBA, and her 43 steals are tied for fifth. She has hit at least three three-pointers in each of Dallas’ last five games, the second-longest active streak in the league and the longest by a rookie in franchise history.

Shepard leads the WNBA with 11.9 rebounds per game and is averaging 14.8 points and 5.3 assists across 26 games while shooting 59.5% from the field. She carries a seven-game double-double streak, the longest in the league this season. Her 18-point, 15-rebound, 10-assist line in the 101-97 win over the Portland Fire was the fourth triple-double of her season and the fifth of her career.

Bueckers is averaging 20.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 6.2 assists through 24 games.

Dallas returns Wednesday against the Atlanta Dream, with tip-off set for 7 p.m. CT at College Park Center. The game airs nationally on USA Network and locally on KFAA.