Curt Miller Says Azzi Fudd Has Been One Of The WNBA’s Elite Guard Defenders

ARLINGTON, Texas — Dallas Wings general manager Curt Miller said Azzi Fudd has been one of the WNBA’s elite guard defenders this season. He met with reporters Monday, two days before Dallas hosts the Atlanta Dream.

“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.

Fudd averages 1.7 steals a game, the most on the roster. Paige Bueckers is next among Dallas guards at 0.7. Fudd also averages 0.8 blocks, second on the team behind Awak Kuier at 1.2.

Her plus-5.4 rating is the best on the team.

“She’s been one of the elite guard defenders in the league this season,” Miller said. “What she’s doing on that end has been remarkable, and I’m really happy for her.”

Earlier this season, Fudd became the fastest player since Tamika Catchings to reach 40 three-pointers and 40 steals, doing it in 23 games.

The Conservative Start

Fudd opened the season in a bench role, and her role has grown as the season has progressed. Miller pointed to an intent to be “very conservative” with the rookie guard, considering she was coming off a long season with UConn.

“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.

Fudd has appeared in 26 of Dallas’ 27 games and averages 31.6 minutes. The Wings are ecstatic with how she’s made an impact on both ends, emphasizing how she’s even further along defensively than expected despite the team having high expectations to begin with.

“What she’s accomplished at both ends of the floor is really what we expected. Defensively, she’s probably a little ahead of schedule,” Miller said. “We believed she had the ability to become an outstanding defender, so we’re very proud of how she’s developed.”

The Other Half Of Her Game

Fudd averages 13.2 points and shoots 45.7% from the field and 38.7% from three. She makes 2.0 three-pointers a game and has shot 45.6% from deep over her last five.

On July 24 in Chicago, she became the first rookie in league history to win the State Farm WNBA 3-Point Contest, beating Bridget Carleton 30-19 in the final round. Her 30-point final is the second-highest score in a finale in the event’s history. No Wings player had won it before.

“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.

Second-year guard Aziaha James was asked at shootaround Wednesday what Fudd gives the offense.

“She’s a natural-born shooter,” James said. “But she also has other capabilities in her game, like attacking downhill, finding the right people for other shots. She can do it all around.”

Atlanta On Wednesday

Fudd has faced the Dream once. She missed the May 12 meeting in Arlington with a right knee injury.

In the May 22 game in Atlanta, she played 20:59 and finished with 7 points on 3-of-9 shooting, 1 rebound, 1 steal, and 3 blocks. The 3 blocks were the most by any Dallas player in either meeting.

Atlanta defends the perimeter well and switches screens to run shooters off the three-point line. Rhyne Howard leads the WNBA with 60 steals.

Tip-off Wednesday is 7 p.m. CT at College Park Center. The game airs on USA Network, KFAA, and Victory+.