Azzi Fudd joins rare WNBA company with defensive feat in Wings’ loss to Liberty

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Azzi Fudd joins rare WNBA company with defensive feat in Wings’ loss to Liberty originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Azzi Fudd entered the WNBA with a reputation as one of the most dangerous shooters in women’s basketball. The Dallas Wings rookie is quickly proving that description does not tell the entire story. Fudd reached an impressive defensive milestone during Dallas’ heartbreaking 99-98 overtime loss to the New York Liberty on Monday night. Her lone block gave her 22 through the first 25 games of her WNBA career, the most by a guard over that span since former Washington Mystics star Alana Beard.

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That is serious company for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft. Beard eventually became one of the league’s most accomplished perimeter defenders, winning consecutive Defensive Player of the Year awards in 2017 and 2018. Fudd still has a long way to go before matching Beard’s résumé, but her early production suggests she could eventually become a legitimate threat for the award.

Azzi Fudd makes WNBA history with Wings

According to Polymarket Hoops, no guard since Beard has recorded more blocks through the first 25 games of a WNBA career.

“Azzi Fudd has the most blocks by a guard through 25 career games since Alana Beard,” the account posted. “Alana Beard went on to win 2 DPOYs.”

Blocks are typically associated with centers and power forwards, making Fudd’s accomplishment even more notable. At 5-11, she does not have the size of the league’s most imposing rim protectors. Instead, she has relied on anticipation, timing and discipline to disrupt shots from the perimeter.

Fudd’s 22 blocks average out to nearly one per game. That number does not automatically make her a Defensive Player of the Year candidate as a rookie, but it does offer another indication that she could develop into one of the WNBA’s best two-way guards.

The former UConn star contributed at both ends against New York. She finished with 15 points, two assists, one rebound and one block in 43 minutes, shooting 6-of-13 from the field and 3-of-6 from 3-point range.

Fudd assumed a larger offensive role because Paige Bueckers was unavailable while dealing with concussion protocol. Although Bueckers had reportedly cleared the protocol, Dallas kept its All-Star guard out after she collided with Nneka Ogwumike during Sunday’s victory over the Los Angeles Sparks.

Wings fall short after surrendering late lead

Dallas appeared to be headed toward its seventh consecutive victory after opening the second half with an 18-3 run. The Wings held New York to only nine points in the third quarter and entered the fourth with a nine-point advantage. The Liberty responded behind Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu. Stewart scored 33 points, while Ionescu delivered 12 points in overtime to help New York end a four-game losing streak.

Fudd believed the Wings moved away from the aggressive approach that helped them build their lead.

“I think we just started to slow down a little,” Fudd told The Dallas Morning News. “I think we stopped pushing the pace as much, which is something that we did in the third quarter. And I think if we had just stuck with that, who knows. We got away from what was working for us.”

Arike Ogunbowale led Dallas with 29 points, six assists and five rebounds. She forced overtime by making two free throws with 3.5 seconds remaining in regulation, but her potential game-winning attempt at the end of the extra period rolled off the rim. Jessica Shepard added 13 points and 16 rebounds, recording her league-leading 17th double-double of the season. Maddy Siegrist scored 13 points, while Awak Kuier finished with 10 points and four blocks.

New York’s dominance on the glass proved costly for Dallas. The Liberty outrebounded the Wings 48-34 and collected 17 offensive rebounds.

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Fudd’s rookie season continues to turn heads

The loss dropped Dallas to 17-9 and snapped its six-game winning streak, but the Wings remain firmly in the playoff picture after enduring a difficult 2025 season. Fudd has been one of the biggest reasons for that turnaround. Her shooting was always expected to translate to the professional level, but the defensive numbers have revealed another dimension to her game.

Comparisons to Beard should be kept in perspective. Beard played 15 WNBA seasons, earned nine All-Defensive Team selections and did not win her first Defensive Player of the Year award until she was an established veteran. Still, Fudd has already placed herself on a promising trajectory. If she continues producing as a scorer while developing into a disruptive perimeter defender, Dallas may have found much more than an elite shooter with the first pick.

The Wings will close their schedule before the WNBA All-Star break against the Portland Fire on Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET.

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