Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers told reporters Monday it’s all business with new teammate Azzi Fudd as the team prepares for the upcoming WNBA season.
Speaking at the Wings’ media day at the University of Texas at Arlington, the reigning Rookie of the Year opened with a direct statement about her personal relationship with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft. Bueckers and Fudd were teammates for three seasons at UConn, won a national championship together in Bueckers’ final college year, and went public with their relationship in 2025. They have not commented on its current status since the draft.
“Quite frankly, I believe me and Azzi’s personal relationship is nobody’s business but our own,” Bueckers said. “And what we choose to share is completely up to us. But as media members, I understand you guys have a job to do. And you guys have to ask questions about the basketball aspect of it. So that’s what I’ll be addressing today.”
Year 2️⃣ looks good on you, PB5!
— WNBA (@WNBA) April 27, 2026
Paige Bueckers is suited up for her second Media Day with the @DallasWings! pic.twitter.com/qnbKumSuF8
She added that the two have always been professionals and will not let anything off the court affect their play. “Me and Azzi have always been the utmost professionals,” Bueckers said. “We’ve never let anything that happens off the court carry onto the court.”
Bueckers emphasized that Fudd earned her spot on merit alone and that her own input had nothing to do with the selection. The Wings, who tied for the league’s worst record last season with 34 losses, are counting on the elite backcourt of Bueckers, four-time All-Star Arike Ogunbowale and the incoming Fudd to spark a turnaround in a franchise that has posted losing records in 13 of the past 16 seasons.
General Manager Curt Miller said the organization conducted a thorough evaluation before picking Fudd first overall. Fudd met with reporters earlier in the day but was not asked about the relationship.
The comments come 11 days after team officials declined to let Fudd answer a similar question at her introductory news conference in Dallas.
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She added that the two have always been professionals and will not let anything off the court affect their play.
She added that the two have always been professionals and will not let anything off the court affect their play.
