ARLINGTON, TX — Azzi Fudd is at peace with the way her rookie season ended.
The Dallas Wings’ most recent No. 1 overall pick certainly didn’t plan it out this way. She played 30 games and logged 24 starts in her first year, cementing herself as a difference-maker for a playoff team.
However, right knee soreness caused an unexpected end to her season. She was a late scratch ahead of an Aug. 7 matchup with the Golden State Valkyries, going on to miss the next five games with no clear timeline for return. On August 19, the team announced that she would have a procedure to address the soreness and miss the rest of the year.
The former UConn guard has previously suffered multiple major injuries in that same knee. This instance isn’t nearly as severe, and Fudd told reporters that she’s been doing well mentally.
“I was definitely a little frustrated at first,” she said in her end-of-season availability Tuesday. “But I feel like I’ve handled this one really well … I feel like just knowing that this was the right decision gave me peace of mind going into this.
“I’ve been through rehab before, it’s nothing new, I know how to attack it.”
Right knee soreness also caused a one-game absence for Fudd in May, as she missed the team’s home opener. She said that instance was “different,” and that it wasn’t an issue for much of the season.
“Everyone experiences soreness,” she said. “It went away, we handled it, and then it came back up and we tried to manage it. It wasn’t manageable.”
It was quite the debut campaign for Fudd. She averaged 13.1 points per game, one of four double-digit scorers on the team. A known sharpshooter, she broke the franchise record for made 3-pointers by a rookie with 62 and won the 3-point contest at All Star Weekend. She also shot 39.7% from deep — better than any other player in the top-10 of the aforementioned franchise list.
She made noise on the other end of the floor, too, leading this year’s rookie class in both steals (1.7) and blocks (0.8) per game. Since moving to North Texas in 2016, no Wings player, rookie or not, has averaged as many combined steals and blocks as Fudd’s 2.6.
In reflecting on her proudest memories from the year, she brings up her defensive success, along with how she was able to handle the transition to the pros in general.
“Obviously I feel like there’s things I could have done better,” Fudd said. “Any elite athlete is going to think that, be able to critique themselves, but I think I’m proud of how I handled it, how I adjusted, I’m proud of my defense, I’m proud of this team and I’m really grateful to be here.”
League-wide, Fudd’s efforts might appear dwarfed by the MVP-caliber season that No. 2 overall selection Olivia Miles has put together for the Minnesota Lynx. Wings head coach Jose Fernandez reiterated to reporters Tuesday that the team felt Fudd was the best fit. The guard undeniably made a positive impact on the team’s historic season and will most likely land a spot on the All-Rookie team at season’s end.
Fudd will watch from the bench as the Wings look to finish off the regular season strong and compete in the postseason. She’d rather be on the court, but has adopted a positive approach as she recovers.
“I’m going to try to be the best cheerleader I can on the side, best teammate. Standing up, sitting down, working on my squat game will be good for my quads,” Fudd joked.
“There’s so much I can learn from this team,” she said. “From everyone on the floor, from everyone on the bench, just the way they talk, the way they play, I’m going to get a really good opportunity to learn.”
