January 1, WNBA’s Top Draft Pick Sets Embarrassing Record in First Game

Wyatt’s Take

• Dallas Wings rookie Azzi Fudd scored just three points in her debut — the worst performance ever by a No. 1 overall WNBA draft pick
• Questions swirl about whether her personal relationship with teammate Paige Bueckers influenced the controversial draft selection
• Despite the rough start, former top pick Kelsey Plum proved slow debuts don’t define careers — she went on to win two championships

The WNBA season kicked off this weekend with plenty of action, including Caitlin Clark’s return from injury. But the biggest story came from Dallas, where the Wings’ newest top draft pick stumbled out of the gate in historic fashion.

Azzi Fudd, selected first overall in this year’s draft, managed just three points in 18 minutes off the bench during Saturday’s 107-104 win over Indiana. That’s the lowest scoring output ever recorded by a No. 1 pick in their WNBA debut — a dubious record that raises eyebrows about the selection process.

The game featured four of the most recent top draft picks, including Clark and Dallas guard Paige Bueckers. But all eyes were on Fudd, whose selection stirred controversy from day one.

Wings coach Jose Fernandez tried to downplay the rough outing, telling reporters:

“Keep doing what she’s doing, it’s her first year in the league. We got five really talented backcourt players.”

That crowded backcourt includes Bueckers (last year’s top pick), four-time All-Star Arike Ogunbowale, and veteran Odyssey Sims. Competition for minutes will be fierce, and Fudd’s debut didn’t exactly make a strong case for more playing time.

Before Saturday, Kelsey Plum held the record for lowest-scoring debut by a first overall pick with four points back in 2017. Plum bounced back from that slow start to earn All-Rookie honors and eventually became a four-time All-Star and two-time champion with the Las Vegas Aces.

The real elephant in the room isn’t just Fudd’s underwhelming performance — it’s the questions about how she became the top pick in the first place. Speculation has swirled about whether her personal relationship with Bueckers played a role in Dallas’ decision.

Bueckers addressed the controversy last month, saying:

“Azzi Fudd was the No. 1 draft pick because she earned it, and it had nothing to do with me and everything to do with who she is as a human being, who she is as a basketball player.”

She also made it clear the nature of their relationship is off-limits:

“Quite frankly, I believe me and Azzi’s personal relationship is nobody’s business but our own. And what we choose to share is completely up to us.”

Neither player has commented publicly on their relationship status since the draft in April. The tight-lipped approach hasn’t stopped fans and analysts from wondering whether basketball talent was the only factor in the Wings’ controversial pick.

Dallas will try to build on their opening weekend victory when they host the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday for their home opener. Whether Fudd gets another chance to prove herself remains to be seen.

Wyatt Matters

Professional sports used to be about one thing: winning. You drafted the best player available, period. Now we’re left wondering if other factors are creeping into decisions that should be purely competitive. Fudd deserves a fair shot to prove herself on the court, but the front office needs to answer tough questions about how merit stacks up against everything else in today’s league. Hard-working Americans who pay to watch expect excellence, not controversy.