Dallas finally unleashed Azzi Fudd -- the WNBA should be paying attention [View all]
The Dallas Wings may have discovered something dangerous. After spending the first seven games of her WNBA career coming off the bench, Azzi Fudd was finally inserted into the starting lineup Thursday night against the defending champion Las Vegas Aces. She responded with 22 points and helped lead Dallas to an impressive 95-87 victory. At this point, it is fair to ask a simple question: Why wasn't this happening sooner?
Fudd entered the game fresh off a 24-point performance against the New York Liberty and followed it up by shooting 9-for-15 from the field and 3-for-5 from three-point range against Las Vegas. More importantly, she looked completely comfortable. The No. 1 overall pick wasn't just scoring. She was defending, moving without the ball, making quick decisions and fitting seamlessly alongside Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale. For weeks, Dallas searched for the right lineup combinations. Now it appears the answer may have been sitting in plain sight.
Fudd's promotion comes as the Wings are quickly becoming one of the WNBA's most intriguing teams. Bueckers finished with 20 points and six assists, while Jessica Shepard delivered one of the greatest statistical performances in league history with 22 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists. Yet Fudd still managed to steal much of the spotlight.
"She gets to her spots," Wings coach Jose Fernandez said after the game. "She's very confident in her shot."
https://www.sportingnews.com/us/wnba/news/dallas-finally-unleashed-azzi-fudd-—-wnba-should-be-paying-attention/4c4970743f6d4f5cfff7465c
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