Azzi Fudd’s WNBA arrival was an anticlimax. After experiencing the highs at UConn and being drafted No. 1, she scored only 3 points coming off the bench on her WNBA debut. Fudd continued to be used as an impact player from the bench rather than a true starter. That’s a very unusual position for a top pick. However, after her latest record-breaking performance, Fernandez has hinted at a possible start but with a grain of salt. 

Azzi Fudd had her best game yet in the Wings’ 91-76 win over the New York Liberty. She put up 24 points, 3 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks  while going 9-15 from the field and 6-12 from the three-point line. That included five three-pointers in the third quarter, a record for a rookie in a single frame. Even after the breakout showing, Fernandez avoided confirming a permanent starting role, but his comments hinted that it may only be a matter of time.

“How many minutes did she play tonight? 32? Her minutes have increased game by game, right?” Jose Fernandez said after being asked about Fudd’s future minutes and possible start. “It’s been a conversation, and I think we’re headed in that direction. I think it showed with her being on the floor and what she did. She started in the second half.”

Jose Fernandez’s straightforward nature might be some getting used to but he has always been consistent regarding Fudd’s future. “She just finished playing a long season, and we have to put her in the best positions to be successful,” Fernandez has said. The approach was to soften her landing into the big leagues rather than push her to the deep end. And, starting or not, Fudd is not concerned about this narrative. 

“To me, it doesn’t matter if I’m starting or coming off the bench. I’m going to play hard whether I play the whole game, play 10 minutes, or anything in between,” Fudd said  (via Natalie Esquire). “I’m going to earn my time from what I do in practice, shootaround, and all those things. When I go in, my goal is to continue helping the team any way I can. It doesn’t matter whether I’m starting or not.”

In fact, she further explained that coming off the bench helps her understand the game situation and get a comprehensive view. But it’s time to push Fudd into the starting lineup, the numbers scream it. Coming into this game, the regular starting lineup of Bueckers, Odyssey Sims, Arike Ogunbowale, Alanna Smith and Alanna Shepard had a -22.5 net rating in 52 minutes. Even in this game, they let Liberty start off with a 20-17 first quarter. Although in a small sample size, 4 of the best lineups feature Fudd. Her on/off is +9, the best on this team. 

In addition, Fudd looked much more in control and confident than in her past games, as she has admitted to some initial struggles. 

Azzi Fudd Reveals The Real Reason For Her Early WNBA Struggles After WNBA History

For the first time in the last four years, the favorite for the Rookie of the Year was not the No. 1 pick. Azzi Fudd could not get going and the Dallas Wings’ decision to bring her in was looking like a miss day by day. She was not looking like the same player as in college, shooting 4-11 from the three-point line in the first five games. 

And it seemed she had her confidence back against Liberty. Her 17-point third quarter is the second best for any rookie in WNBA history. She had the most threes in a quarter by a rookie and the second most by any player. Now, she has revealed what was holding her back initially in her WNBA career. 

“My goal today was to play a little slower. I felt like I was rushing every time I caught the ball and not making the right reads right away. I was just putting the ball down and going too fast,” Fudd said. “My teammates were setting great screens and giving me great passes, so I was reading what was there, and I hit three tonight.”

The Dallas Wings look completely different with Fudd in full flow. Now, they have a triple threat in Paige Bueckers, who is almost automatic from midrange. She had 24 points on 7-13 shooting while adding 6 rebounds and 2 assists. Ogunbowale chipped in with 19 points and 5 assists for a complete offensive display. 

Then there is Awak Kuier, who has stepped up early in the season providing size and a footprint in the paint. She had 10 points, 6 rebounds and 2 blocks in this game and the offense looks a lot more threatening. The pieces are there. Now, Fernandez and Co. will need to sharpen the rough edges to attain consistency.