It's time for Wings' Azzi Fudd to get her chance as a starter

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May 25, 2026 - 14:54

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It's time for Wings' Azzi Fudd to get her chance as a starter originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Coming off the best performance of her young career on Sunday, Azzi Fudd is heading in the right direction.

According to her head coach, a chance in the starting five might not be too far away.

“We’re headed in that direction.” - Jose Fernandez on whether Azzi Fudd will be starting for the Dallas Wings going forward pic.twitter.com/oNC4LtgJOx— Natalie Esquire (@natfluential) May 24, 2026

Fudd scored 24 points and drilled six 3-pointers as she helped the Dallas Wings to a 91-76 road win over the New York Liberty. It was a game that showed off her best virtues: her explosive shotmaking and sturdy on-ball defense. Fudd scored 17 points in the third quarter as the Wings wrested control of the game away from the Liberty.

MORE: Wings' Azzi Fudd ties Caitlin Clark with incredible outburst

After Jose Fernandez called out his team for "selfishness," the Wings have won three of four, with all victories coming by double-digits.

Even still, there is room for improvement, and that's where moving Fudd to the starting lineup comes in.

Entering Sunday's game, the Wings' starting lineup -- Paige Bueckers, Odyssey Sims, Arike Ogunbowale, Alanna Smith and Jessica Shepard -- had a ghastly minus-22.5 net rating in 52 minutes.

Once Fudd and big Awak Kuier entered the game, Dallas overcame a slow start in New York. Fudd now is one of only two players shooting 55 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3-point range and 90 percent from the free-throw line.

When Sims, Bueckers, Ogunbowale on the court:

68 minutes
95.0 Offensive rating
111.3 Defensive rating
- 16.3 Net rating

When Bueckers, Ogunbowale, Fudd on the court:

63 minutes
127.2 Offensive rating
108.1 Defensive rating
+19.1 Net rating— Landon Thomas (@sixfivelando) May 23, 2026

Dallas' roster isn't perfect. The Wings have too many guards, and the high-profile signing of Smith -- the co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2025 -- has been a flop so far.

But in Fudd, Dallas knows exactly what it has. She is earning more minutes, more prominence...and soon, a role as a starter next to Bueckers and Ogunbowale.