Dallas Wings gaurd Paige Bueckers made one thing clear as attention around her WNBA reunion with former UConn teammate and No. 1 draft pick Azzi Fudd grows: She wants the focus on basketball.
Bueckers addressed her relationship with Fudd at Dallas Wings media day, redirecting the conversation before reporters could ask questions.
"Azzi Fudd was a No. 1 draft pick because she earned it," Bueckers said. "It had nothing to do with me and everything to do with who she is as a human being, who she is a basketball player, her resilience, her strength and her career-best year at UConn."
The two share years of history on the court as former UConn women's basketball teammates and 2025 national champions. Now, Bueckers is pushing back on any media attention that overshadows Fudd's unique impact on and off the court.
"Azzi is her own great individual person, and she should be celebrated as such," she added.
The 24-year-old also stated she won't continue answering questions about their personal relationship. Instead, she plans to focus on basketball and the rest of her Dallas Wings teammates.
Fudd left UConn shooting 42.2% from 3-point range and 92.5% from the free-throw line. She additionally averaged 14.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.7 steals per game across 115 NCAA appearances.
When asked about her relationship with Bueckers in an interview with Dallas's ABC affiliate WFAA, Fudd described how she felt about being reunited with her fellow Husky guard.
"So special," she said. "Here I am, no control in where I get drafted, and I get to play with my best friend again. So it really is special."
