Reporter Responds to Backlash After Paige Bueckers Question at Azzi Fudd Press Conference

The Dallas Wings selected UConn Huskies guard Azzi Fudd with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft earlier this week in a move that will give the team an elite shooter.

During her college career at UConn, Fudd averaged 14.7 points on 46.9% shooting from the field and 42.2% shooting from three. She helped lead the Huskies to a title during the 2024-25 season, and was even named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

Helping her lead the charge that season and throughout most of her career was the No. 1 overall pick in last year's draft, Paige Bueckers, who was also taken by the Wings. The two formed a dynamic duo on the court and confirmed that they were dating back in 2025.

However, when Fudd was asked about their relationship on Thursday by the Dallas Morning News' Kevin Sherrington, the Wings declined to let Fudd comment on the matter. While they may have felt it was the right move, an online debate has ensued over whether the question was appropriate.

Sherrington has since responded, blaming the Wings for how they handled the question.

"If anyone's at fault here, it's the Wings who... acted as if they were covering for something that didn't need hiding," Sherrington wrote via Yahoo Sports.

While many around the sport have questioned if the Wings felt inclined to select Fudd over players like Lauren Betts of UCLA or Awa Fam Thiam of Spain due to her relationship with Bueckers, general manager Curt Miller revealed that Fudd was always going to be the pick.

"Since the moment we secured the No. 1 pick, we set out on a plan to be deliberate, thorough, with intention on evaluating where we got to ultimately in picking Azzi Fudd," Miller said via ESPN. "We traveled all over the world watching this incredible draft class, but it all came back always to Azzi."

It's hard to imagine the discourse surrounding the topic is over, but clearly the Wings won't entertain it.

Related: Dallas Wings Decline Reporter's Question to Azzi Fudd

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This story was originally published April 16, 2026 at 10:45 PM.