As media, experts, and fans debate over the Dallas Wings’ decision to pick Azzi Fudd as the number one pick on draft night, the UConn star has opened up about the prospect of playing with former teammate Paige Bueckers again.

The UConn power duo is reunited, this time for the Dallas Wings in the WNBA, as Azzi Fudd became another in a long line of UConn stars to be the first pick on draft night. Azzi and Paige’s public relationship is stirring the pot, with speculation rife about the franchise’s choice to pick the 23-year-old over other viable options like Awa Fam and Olivia Miles.

Meanwhile, Azzi is looking forward to representing the Wings alongside Paige. The 23-year-old was asked about her unique on-court chemistry with Paige, and cheerfully highlighted how the Dallas Wings guard makes everything around her easier.

“Paige is an incredible player. Everybody knows that. She’s someone that makes playing basketball with easy. I think just the prior experience, knowing how to play with her, play off of her, will only help going into this,” Azzi said before adding, “Just so much potential, not just with her, but the entire Dallas Wings roster. So, I can’t wait, obviously, with her again, but to play with every single one of them.”

The duo’s chemistry is evident both on and off the court, especially after Azzi and Paige made their relationship public.

Easy or not, Paige sure made it look easy for UConn while she was still playing college basketball. While the Huskies performed admirably this season without her, Paige’s absence was felt as Geno Auriemma’s side fell to the South Carolina Gamecocks, with the pressure getting to the team.

Her performances for the Dallas Wings also earned her All-Star and All-WNBA Second Team honors in her rookie year. But the Wings could not capitalize on it to lift themselves from the bottom of the league standings. Now, they are banking on pre-existing chemistry to lead them to better results.

In Azzi, Dallas has not only prioritized chemistry but also a win-now attitude, with Awa Fam likely to need time to adjust to American basketball, coming in from Spain. The Wings have also made other powerful roster moves that align with their need for immediate improvement.

Dallas adding four players on training camp contracts as the battle for final roster spots intensifies

With the Wings having less than a month to finalize their 2026 WNBA roster, the front office has added four players on training camp contracts to help them round out their squad with the best combinations possible.

12 active and 2 developmental spots are available for every WNBA franchise, which has already filled the majority of those with offseason moves. To help with the decision, the Wings added Shyanne Sellers, Costanza Verona, Amy Okonkwo, and Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu on training camp contracts.

This increases the Dallas training camp squad’s strength to 21 players, with the franchise needing to whittle it down to 12 names besides two developmental slots.

Sellers will be vying for one of the available developmental spots, with one of the two almost guaranteed to go to second-round pick Zee Spearman. Sellers’ primary competition will prove to be JJ Quinerly and Amy Okonkwo. Dallas should be mindful that either player who ends up being waived will probably attract attention from other WNBA teams.

Meanwhile, Verona and Mendjiadeu will probably help with conditioning the players for the upcoming preseason. Crazier things have happened during training camp leading up to the roster deadline.

We have prime examples in Karlie Samuelson and Megan Gustafson, recent training camp contractees who have been signed to multi-year deals in the WNBA. Alternatively, players who shine in training camps open up pathways to overseas basketball contracts, developmental slots, and even future emergency hardship deals during the season.

Dallas will need to think about filling its roster spots. But one thing is for sure: the Wings have bought into the idea that chemistry translates to success, and that core philosophy will be a key factor in primary decisions.