Azzi Fudd made a splash last night, as the No. 1 overall draft pick won the WNBA’s 3-Point Contest to become the All-Star event’s first-ever rookie champion.
The Dallas guard opened with a 24-point showing, besting Atlanta’s Rhyne Howard (20), Golden State’s Janelle Salaün (19), Toronto’s Marina Mabrey (18), and Seattle’s Natisha Hiedeman (17) to meet Portland’s Bridget Carleton (27) in the final.
The UConn product then caught fire, draining all five first-rack balls before knocking down 20 of 26 shots for a 30-point finish — far eclipsing Carleton’s 19-point effort.
All participants pocketed $10,000, while Fudd picked up an extra $20,000 for plus $40,000 from Aflac, Carleton took home an additional $30,000, and Howard walked with $15,000.
“This is what you do every single day as a basketball player,” Fudd told ESPN. “I just want to see the ball go in.”
Team Washington Wins WNBA All-Star Weekend’s Shooting Stars Challenge
Team Washington — Mystics center Shakira Austin, franchise legend Elena Delle Donne, and high school prospect Jezelle “GG” Banks — outshone Team Seattle 31-24 to lift Friday’s inaugural Shooting Stars trophy.
The winners split Aflac’s $85,000 check alongside $22,500 each, while all current and former pros received $7,500 apiece.
“I loved it,” Delle Donne said. “To be able to lead the next generation and see our next superstars rising, it’s really cool.”
