ARLINGTON, Texas — ESPN has settled on Azzi Fudd as its final projection for the Dallas Wings at No. 1 overall in the 2026 WNBA Draft — the outlet’s third different top pick this cycle.
In its final mock draft published Monday, ESPN’s Michael Voepel returned to Fudd after projecting Olivia Miles at No. 1 last week, citing the Wings’ active free agency as the deciding factor.
“With Fudd being an elite 3-point shooter, plus her growth as a defender, she should fit well with the Wings,” Voepel wrote.
Why Free Agency Changed the Calculus
The move makes sense in context. Dallas re-signed Arike Ogunbowale, added Alanna Smith and Jessica Shepard to the frontcourt, brought back Awak Kuier, and retained Li Yueru — addressing interior needs before the draft even began. With frontcourt depth no longer the most pressing concern, the Wings’ most glaring remaining weakness entering tonight is perimeter shooting. Fudd addresses that as well as anyone in this class.
The Dallas Wings ranked last in the league in three-point attempts last season, launching just 21.6 per game while connecting at 30.4%. The league-leading Minnesota Lynx attempted 25.4 threes per game and converted at 37.8%. That gap in volume and efficiency is significant. Adding Fudd is the most direct path to closing it on day one.
What Azzi Fudd Brings
ESPN noted that Fudd struggled in the latter stages of this year’s NCAA Tournament — shooting 12-of-39 over her final three games, including 3-of-15 in UConn’s national semifinal loss to South Carolina. But the outlet emphasized that her quick release and footwork give her shooting profile strong professional translation, and her career 42.2% mark from three across four seasons at UConn reflects sustained excellence rather than a single hot stretch.
The Synergy Sports data reinforces that. Fudd posted a 1.210 points per possession mark in spot-up situations last season — 97th percentile, rated Excellent. Her off-screen efficiency came in at 1.150 PPP at the 90th percentile, and her guarded catch-and-shoot PPP registered at 1.21 — 94th percentile — meaning she doesn’t need a clean look to be a threat. Teams can run her off staggers, flares, floppy actions, and pin-ins. She shot 44.5% from three on 263 attempts last season, rated Excellent at the 98th percentile by Synergy.
Her pick-and-roll ball-handler numbers add another dimension often overlooked in the shooting-first conversation. Fudd logged 117 pick-and-roll possessions last season at 0.906 PPP overall — 84th percentile, Excellent — including a 1.037 PPP mark at the 93rd percentile when defenses committed hard. She is more than a spot-up shooter. She is a complete perimeter threat.
How the Rest of the Top Four Falls
ESPN projects Olivia Miles to fall to the Minnesota Lynx at No. 2 — a natural fit given Minnesota’s frontcourt losses in free agency freed up space for a playmaking guard. Awa Fam lands with the Seattle Storm at No. 3, and Lauren Betts goes to the Washington Mystics at No. 4.
The projection aligns with the current FanDuel betting market, which has Fudd listed at -450 to go No. 1 overall — an implied probability of roughly 82%. Dallas Hoops Journal also projects Fudd at No. 1 in its final mock draft. The Athletic is the notable outlier, projecting Miles at the top spot.
The 2026 WNBA Draft tips off tonight at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN from The Shed at Hudson Yards in New York City.
