Paige Bueckers’ postseason dreams ended almost as quickly as they began. A heartbreaking 80–81 defeat shut the door on her debut run, leaving her to look ahead with hopes of a brighter sophomore season. To her credit, Bueckers left everything on the floor. She delivered double figures all season long and capped it off with a jaw-dropping 44-point performance in the elimination game. Still, it often felt like she was carrying the weight alone.

But if fate permits, Bueckers will have someone close to her heart to shoulder the load next season, Azzi Fudd. UConn recently confirmed that Azzi Fudd will return for one more collegiate season, making her eligible for the 2026 WNBA Draft. For Bueckers, that opens the door to potentially reuniting with her longtime teammate. How? Well, it would involve Dallas getting a top draft pick and a bit of luck.

According to insider Grant Afseth on X, “The Dallas Wings currently hold a 40% chance to land the No. 1 pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft.” If they land it, pairing Fudd with Bueckers could give Dallas a proven duo that already thrived together at UConn and with Team USA. The two have been teammates since their teenage years and have undeniable chemistry on and off the court.

During the 2024–25 season, Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd played together in approximately 31 games, marking their longest stretch on the court together in their collegiate careers. And when they did, they were electric. The duo helped lead the Huskies to a dominant 2025 NCAA Championship run, capped by an emphatic 82–59 win over defending champion South Carolina. Even Bueckers has admitted the obvious: she and Fudd are better side by side than across from each other.

Their chemistry dates back years. In fact, Bueckers once took recruiting into her own hands in the most creative way possible. She made a highlight reel, but not of her scoring. It was all about her passing. The idea was simple: show Fudd exactly how many open shots she’d get if she chose UConn. As Fudd later remembered, Bueckers even AirDropped the clip to her family, telling them, “These are the passes I’ll get you… You’ll get all these open shots if you come to UConn next year.”

Fast forward to now, and the thought of reuniting in the pros is more than just a dream, though it won’t be easy. For the Dallas Wings to bring Fudd alongside Bueckers, the franchise would likely need back-to-back No. 1 picks, and they have a 40 percent chance to have that. That’s rare, but history says it’s not impossible. The Seattle Storm pulled it off with Lauren Jackson (2001) and Sue Bird (2002). Then again, with Jewell Loyd (2015) and Breanna Stewart (2016). The Las Vegas Aces, back when they were the San Antonio Stars, strung together three straight No. 1 picks. Kelsey Plum (2017), A’ja Wilson (2018), and Jackie Young (2019) were picked in three years. And most recently, the Indiana Fever struck gold with Aliyah Boston (2023), followed by Caitlin Clark (2024).

So yes, the door is open. What makes things even more intriguing is that Dallas holds the right to swap first-round picks with the Chicago Sky in 2025. With both teams sitting near the bottom of the standings, that swap could become crucial. And while the logistics may be complicated, there’s no shortage of voices pushing for the reunion.

Is it possible for Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd to team up in the WNBA?

“I think we both hate losing, but I think we both hate losing to each other more than anything. So we both want to win, we both want to make each other better. I think that works on and off the court as well. I think we’re just here to make each other better and give each other opportunities, and it’ll be fun to go at it in practice, but once we get on the same court together and go against other teams, I think that’ll be good,” Bueckers said back in 2021 about Fudd.

That bond is exactly why so many fans want to see them reunited in the WNBA. It isn’t just about a relationship; it’s about proven chemistry. But the real challenge is how the 2026 draft order shakes out. Kelley O’Hara put it best: “Lauren Betts is projected as of now the No. 1 pick in the next [2026] draft. Therefore, Lauren Betts in Dallas… Dallas would gain a lot from that.”

And she’s right. Betts, the 6’7” UCLA star, is a projected No. 1 for a reason. She’s putting up monster numbers, 20.2 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game, while shooting a ridiculous 64.8 percent from the field. Fudd, on the other hand, brings a completely different skillset but one that’s just as valuable. The UConn sharpshooter, projected No. 2, is averaging 13.6 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.8 assists, while hitting 43.6 percent from deep.

So yes, both Betts and Fudd are game-changers in their own right. But if you ask the fans, most don’t care about the draft order or projections. They just want to see Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd back on the same side, lighting it up together. And in the unpredictable world of the W, you never really know what might happen next.