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."
The Wings added another Husky to the pack, selecting UConn’s Azzi Fudd No. 1 overall to tip off last night’s 2026 WNBA Draft.
The nation’s top shooting guard prospect, Fudd will reunite with fellow 2025 NCAA champion — and fellow No. 1 pick — Paige Bueckers in Dallas.
“Paige is an incredible player,” Fudd told reporters at the post-draft press conference.
“Everybody knows that she’s someone that makes playing basketball with easy. So I think just the prior experience knowing how to play with her, play off of her, will only help.”
The 23-year-old finished her UConn career shooting 42.2% from the 3-point line 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.
“I feel like the advice has mostly been a combination of, one, soak this whole weekend in,” Fudd told PEOPLE from the Orange Carpet.
“You know, it only happens once — it's your moment — so really take it all in. Try to take notes, try to learn, try to just enjoy the moment. And then going forward, be confident, stay true to yourself, do what got you drafted, and also enjoy that moment as well.”
Top Recruits Follow Azzi Fudd in 2026 WNBA Draft 1st Round
Top college and international prospects subsequently lit up the draft lottery. Minnesota took TCU guard Olivia Miles at No. 2 before Seattle took Spanish phenom Awa Fam Thiam at No. 3. Later, Washington picked up UCLA center Lauren Betts at No. 4.
Chicago took the biggest first-round swing. The Sky selected UCLA guard and March Madness hero Gabriela Jaquez at No. 5, after the sleeper pick saw her draft stock rise during the NCAA tournament.
Betts and Jaquez were just two of the record-six Bruins drafted on Monday. Fellow 2026 champions Kiki Rice (Toronto), Angela Dugalić (Washington), Gianna Kneepkens (Connecticut), and Charlisse Leger-Walker (Connecticut) all graced the WNBA Draft stage.
The rookies won’t have much time to celebrate. Now, the new recruits prepare to join their teams for training camp ahead of April 25th’s preseason tipoff.
2026 WNBA Draft No. 1 pick Azzi Fudd is in for a raise, as rookie salary increases show just how much the new WNBA CBA has impacted player pay across the league.
The Dallas Wings selected Fudd with the No. 1 overall pick in Monday night's WNBA Draft, making the UConn guard the latest face of a new financial era. Fudd will earn a $500,000 base salary as a rookie — the highest first-year payday in league history.
The 2026 WNBA draft class will see a large salary increase under the new CBA 😳 pic.twitter.com/28I9xGb7D8
— Just Women’s Sports (@justwsports) April 13, 2026
That number stands out even more in context. Indiana's Caitlin Clark made $76,535 as the No. 1 pick in 2024, while fellow Wing Paige Bueckers earned $78,831 as last year's top pick. Fudd is now in line to make more than six times Bueckers's rookie salary just one year later.
Her contract also escalates quickly. Fudd is set to make $520,000 in 2027 and $572,000 in 2028. And should Dallas exercise its team option, she could subsequently earn $646,360 in 2029.
The jump comes directly from the WNBA's new CBA. The CBA raised the salary cap from $1.5 million to $7 million while also increasing revenue share. That shift reshaped rookie scale contracts across the board, giving the 2026 WNBA Draft class a dramatically different financial starting point.
However, Fudd assured reporters that she's focusing on more than the paycheck in Dallas.
"I can't wait," Fudd said. "Obviously, Paige (Bueckers), Arike (Ogunbowale)... I can't wait to learn how to play with them. Learn how they play, their style of play, and how I can contribute."
The rest of the class will also benefit. First-round picks are expected to take home an average of $386,000 as rookies. In comparison, last year's first-rounders averaged roughly $75,000 per year.
As the No. 1 pick, Azzi Fudd enters Dallas with both heightened expectations and an unprecedented deal, broadening the WNBA's horizon for future generations.
Procter & Gamble is broadening its presence in women's sports, entering into a landmark multi-year, multi-brand partnership with the WNBA.
The deal redefines how P&G shows up across sports, culture, and the lives of fans as the league embraces unprecedented momentum.
The partnership also expands P&G's presence beyond Mielle's existing relationship as the league's Official Textured Hair Care Partner since July 2023. For instance, Secret — the No. 1 Clinical antiperspirant brand — and Olay — the award-winning skincare brand — launched products created in collaboration with WNBA stars A'ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces) and Paige Bueckers (Dallas Wings).
As the Official Period Care Sponsor of the WNBA, Tampax will be taking over the 2026 WNBA Draft presented by State Street Investment Management SPY, while brands including Downy, Gillette Venus, Olay, and Tide plan to roll out additional initiatives throughout the season.
“The WNBA is experiencing incredible growth, and this partnership is a powerful opportunity for our brands to show up in ways that celebrate the game and reach the WNBA’s highly engaged, passionate, and diverse fanbase,” Mindy Sherwood, President of North America and Chief Sales Officer, Procter & Gamble, wrote in today's press release.
"There is a natural alignment between the elite performance of WNBA athletes, and the superior performance P&G brands deliver, and together, we can elevate both."
The news arrives as the WNBA gears up for another explosive season, coming off of last year's record viewership, sold-out arenas, and cultural influence extending far beyond gameday. The league's fanbase has transformed dramatically in both size and composition over recent years, creating new opportunities for brands to connect with fiercely engaged audiences.
"We're focused on working with partners who elevate our brand visibility, deepen fan engagement, and drive long-term growth," first-ever WNBA Chief Growth Officer Colie Edison told JWS in an exclusive interview.
"P&G offers an unmatched portfolio of trusted household brands. That gives us the opportunity to reach fans in new ways through integrated storytelling, retail presence, and everyday consumer touchpoints."
Prioritizing forming lasting bonds over simply slapping logos on league properties, P&G and the WNBA crafted a marketing strategy that strives to capture what fans truly care about.
"Authenticity is critical," Stacey Reherman, Vice President of Sports Marketing, Procter & Gamble told JWS. "There must be a genuine connection between brand benefits and what really matters to the fans we are trying to serve. "
P&G's widespread portfolio also lends itself to personalized activations surrounding world-famous personalities and blockbuster events rather than taking a generic WNBA-branded approach.
"P&G's portfolio is incredibly diverse, which gives us the ability to meet fans in unique, authentic, and culturally relevant ways," Edison said.
"With such a broad range of brands, P&G's portfolio allows us to tailor partnerships around individual athletes and WNBA tentpole events in a way that feels personalized."
Edison highlighted how holistically P&G viewed the players throughout the partnership's development. The company recognized that WNBA fans follow athletes on and off the court, making note of their personal lives, relationships, favorite brands, fashion choices, and backstories — not just their stats.
"What stood out most was how intentional P&G was about centering the players throughout this process," Edison said. "This partnership really leans into that."
The partnership targets existing fans, new audiences, and former fans re-engaging with the league, with data showing that the WNBA fanbase ranks among the sports world's most engaged, passionate, and diverse as it continues to expand — the perfect audience for P&G's broad brand lineup.
"This growth, coupled with the league's massive reach and viewership, broadens the ability of our brands to reach new audiences," Reherman said.
Through partnership, P&G brands are investing in the continued growth of the game by amplifying player storylines, engaging fans, and driving retail growth.
What's more, Edison sees this new partnership as a bellwether forecasting where women's sports stands in the current global marketplace — and where it's headed.
"It sends a clear message that women's sports aren't niche — they're a major part of the cultural conversation," she said. "The WNBA is shaping culture and having a global powerhouse like P&G alongside us reinforces just how far the league has come and where it's headed."
Additional details on brand activations and storytelling moments are set to roll out throughout the 2026 WNBA season.
Nika Muhl is facing yet another long recovery, with the Seattle Storm guard set to miss the 2026 WNBA season after suffering a second ACL tear in under two years. The injury took place during a game on March 11th, while Muhl represented Croatia in the FIBA Women's EuroBasket Qualifiers.
Notes of support poured in quickly across the basketball community, including from Muhl's old UConn teammate Paige Bueckers. After she posted a hospital selfie following her surgery, Bueckers responded in the comments.
"Two new and improved knees incoming," Bueckers wrote, adding three smiling emojis.
Muhl sustained the injury while competing internationally, adding to a growing list of setbacks early in her professional career. She previously missed the 2025 season after injuring her left knee in 2024, marking her second major knee injury since turning pro.
Bueckers has supported Muhl through both recoveries, sharing a similar message after the initial ACL tear.
"Nothing my twin can't overcome. Gonna destroy this comeback journey! God speed," she wrote.
Bueckers, who missed the 2022/23 season with her own ALC injury, has remained close with Muhl since their time at UConn, where the two built a strong on-court partnership.
Muhl established herself as one of the program's top playmakers, finishing her career as UConn's all-time assist leader before the Seattle Storm selected her No. 14 overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
The 24-year-old has appeared just in 16 games with the Storm.
Team USA tips off in Puerto Rico on Wednesday, with several big-name rookies expected to make their senior basketball team debuts in the week-long 2026 FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament.
USA Basketball debutants Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese, and Kiki Iriafen — as well as recent roster additions Monique Billings and Rae Burrell — could see their first senior team minutes in Wednesday's matchup against Senegal, as the squad continues to hone its player pool in the lead-up to the 2028 LA Olympics.
"The international game is obviously very challenging, and this is my first time on a senior national team," Clark said this week. "So, no better way than just getting tossed into the fire."
Four regional World Cup Qualifying Tournaments are running concurrently this week, with each competition utilizing a round-robin format where teams amass points to determine the winner.
For head coach Kara Lawson's Team USA, the games are merely additional international experience, as the nation already qualified for the this year's World Cup by winning the 2025 FIBA AmeriCup last July.
The US will enter the 2026 World Cup as four-time reigning champions, with this week's qualifiers serving as an extended audition for September's USA Basketball roster.
How to watch Team USA at the 2026 FIBA World Cup qualifiers
The US will kick off the week-long 2026 FIBA World Cup qualifiers by taking on Senegal at 4:45 PM ET on Wednesday, with matchups against Puerto Rico, Italy, New Zealand, and Spain also on their tournament docket.
Wednesday's game will air live on truTV.
Paige Bueckers addressed the ongoing WNBA CBA negotiations ahead of Monday's Unrivaled Basketball semifinals, telling reporters that talks have stalled between the league and WNBPA.
"At this point, it's not really a negotiation anymore," Bueckers said. "Like, both sides aren't moving. So I feel like we need to continue to have these conversations, continue to actually have change implemented for us to move on our stance."
The WNBA submitted its latest proposal ahead of the Unrivaled Basketball showcase in Brooklyn, with players appearing dissatisfied with the offer. Bueckers later emphasized that players want to avoid a work stoppage but need proper compensation.
"We as players, we don't want to strike. We want to have a season. I love playing basketball. That's all I want to do," the Dallas Wings guard continued. "But again, there are things that need to be handled, and we want to do it as professionals."
The league recently set a March 10th CBA deadline to keep the season on schedule., with teams looking complete free agency, trades, and the draft before the late April preseason tip-off. FIBA World Cup qualifiers start next week, adding pressure to the timeline. Nevertheless, the two sides remain far apart on revenue sharing.
The Wings face significant uncertainty heading into the season, with Dallas hiring a new head coach while also owning the No. 1 draft pick. However, the Wings have made zero offseason moves as negotiations continue.
In her remarks, Bueckers noted that she and Caitlin Clark are boosting league value, with the players requesting proper compensation for their contributions. A strike could seriously derail the entire 2026 season unless both sides reach a deal by March 10th.
Unrivaled is headed for the Big Apple, as Saturday's first round of heated playoff competition set the stage for the 3x3 league's off-campus semifinals at Brooklyn's Barclays Center on Monday night.
Tipping off the 2026 postseason with an upset, No. 6-seed Vinyl BC took down the No. 3 Laces 82-69 on Saturday, with Rhyne Howard and Dearica Hamby combining for 55 points to send the 2025 runners-up to the semis.
Continuing the upset trend, No. 5 Breeze BC then knocked out reigning champion No. 4 Rose BC 69-50, fueled by Paige Bueckers's game-leading 29 points and fellow Unrivaled rookie star Dominique Malonga's 14-point, 17-rebound double-double.
Top seeds Phantom BC and Mist BC now await the first-round winners in New York, though the No. 1 Phantom won't benefit from their bye as much as they'd hoped.
The team announced Sunday that Unrivaled's 2026 Defensive Player of the Year Aliyah Boston is out with a right lower extremity injury.
Boston now joins guard Dana Evans on the season-ending injury list as development player pool replacements Aziaha James and Makayla Timpson will round out the Phantom roster in Brooklyn.
How to watch the 2026 Unrivaled semifinals
The 2026 Unrivaled semifinals tip off in NYC at 7:30 PM ET on Monday night, when the No. 6 Vinyl will take on the No. 1 Phantom.
Then at 8:45 PM ET, the No. 2 Mist will face off against the No. 5 Breeze for the final spot in Wednesday's champtionship game.
Both semis will air live on TNT.
The opening round of the 2026 Unrivaled 1v1 tournament did not miss, as Wednesday's 11 matchups — including four upsets — loaded the bracket for Friday night's knockout slate.
Unrivaled rookie No. 6-seed Sonia Citron started the upsets with a splashy 12-10 win over No. 3 Marina Mabrey, before No. 7 Rae Burrell got past No. 2 Rhyne Howard 12-9 and No. 6 Shakira Austin topped No. 3 Dearica Hamby 12-10.
The most dramatic matchup of Wednesday's first round starred 2025 WNBA Most Improved Player and Unrivaled 1v1 No. 5-seed Veronica Burton, who upset a stunned No. 4 Courtney Williams in a 11-0 shutout.
The competition's No. 1 seeds saw a chalkier path, with Paige Bueckers ousting Kate Martin 12-5, Breanna Stewart handling Li Yueru 11-6, and Kelsey Mitchel downing Rachel Banham 12-3.
Friday's bill kicks off with eight second-round showdowns before the quarterfinals narrow the pool down to four contenders, who will face-off in Saturday's semifinals ahead of a best-of-three final round to crown Unrivaled's new 1v1 champion.
The second round is full of top-tier matchups, including Bueckers squaring off against Dallas Wings teammate Arike Ogunbowale, Stewart taking on fellow big Aliyah Boston, and Austin facing defending 1v1 runner-up Aaliyah Edwards — as well as an underdog clash between Citron and Burrell.
How to watch the 2026 Unrivaled 1v1 tournament this weekend
The 1v1 tournament's second round tips off at 7:30 PM ET on Friday, with the semifinals and finals taking the Miami court at 6 PM ET on Saturday.
All Unrivaled 1v1 games will air live on TNT.
USA Basketball is betting on the future, naming WNBA Rookie of the Year winners Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers to its 2026 FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament 12-player roster on Wednesday.
Making their competitive senior team debuts alongside Clark and Bueckers will be Angel Reese, Sonia Citron, and Kiki Iriafen, with 2024 Olympic gold medalists Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum, and Jackie Young backing the fresh faces, among other international veterans.
Duke University head coach Kara Lawson will lead the team, with support from a trio of WNBA managers serving as assistants: Natalie Nakase (Golden State Valkyries), Nate Tibbetts (Phoenix Mercury), and Stephanie White (Indiana Fever).
"We have a great generation of young, very talented players coming up," Lawson said in Wednesday's USA Basketball announcement. "It will be good to have them in a position to play with Team USA this time and see how they gel with everyone."
While the US already booked a spot in Berlin's 2026 World Cup by winning the 2025 FIBA AmeriCup in July, next month's qualifiers will serve as a testing ground for September's main event.
Senegal, New Zealand, Spain, Italy, and Puerto Rico join USA Basketball managing director Sue Bird's hand-picked roster in San Juan from March 11th to March 17th, while simultaneous qualifying tournaments tip off in France and China.