Dallas Wings stars Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd announced on Friday during an episode of Fudd's podcast, "Fudd Around and Find Out," that they are no longer a couple and have not been together for over a year.
Fudd said the pair wanted to share the news with listeners, and Bueckers clarified that the breakup happened before Fudd was drafted in 2026. "She was not drafted because she was my girlfriend. She was drafted because she deserved it, because she's an amazing human, amazing basketball player," Bueckers said. Both emphasized they remain friends and professionals, having played an entire WNBA season together after the split.
The two first met at a Team USA tryout in 2017 and later became teammates at UConn, where they led the Huskies to the NCAA national championship. Their relationship became public in July 2025 after Bueckers was selected No. 1 overall by the Wings in the 2025 WNBA Draft. A year later, the Wings chose Fudd with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft.
At Fudd's introductory press conference in April, the Wings declined to comment on the players' personal lives. Bueckers later stated at media day that their relationship was private and she would not address the topic again during the season.
Fudd's rookie campaign ended after 30 games due to season-ending knee surgery. Before the injury, she averaged 13.1 points and 1.7 steals while shooting 39.7% from three-point range, earning a spot on the All-Rookie Team. Bueckers averaged 20.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 5.9 assists on 51.2/41/87.1 shooting splits, was named to the All-WNBA Second Team for the second consecutive season, and finished sixth in MVP voting. The Wings reached the playoffs as the No. 7 seed but lost in the first round to the eventual champion Golden State Valkyries.
