This WNBA draft was unlike anything we have seen in a while. In the last three years, there has been a clear No. 1 pick. In 2023, it would be Aliyah Boston. 2024 was the year of Caitlin Clark and last year it was Paige Bueckers. This year, there was no dominant player in the battle of No. 1, locked between Azzi Fudd and Spanish youngster Awa Fam. Ultimately, Fudd has won that battle, as the Dallas Wings have selected her. Yet, according to Sabreena Merchant of The Athletic, it could be a mistake. 

From the Wings perspective, their ideal path forward does not include another lottery pick. This is the second consecutive No. 1 pick they have and with two elite talents, they should be in the running for the title. Especially after getting a chance to fully reload in the biggest free agency in WNBA history. So, there was the long-term future and vision of the future riding on this selection. Considering this, Awa Fam was the better pick according to Merchant. 

“The opportunity to select at number one, two, or even three is not going to come around if things go according to plan,” she said on the “No Off Season Podcast.” “I like Azzi Fudd a lot, but I don’t think she’s going to be a top five or top 10 player in the league. I think she’s going to be a really good complementary player.”

Azzi Fudd’s talent in college basketball was unquestionable. She averaged 17.3 points and 3.1 assists as a senior while shooting 44.7% from the three-point line. Her defense was more than acceptable, with her opponent’s EFG% dropping by 0.9% (via draftballr), and her DRAPM stands at 8.3 in the 97th percentile. 

So, the question is whether it translates to the big leagues in the WNBA against more athletic and physical play. The doubts stem from the fact that she has already been inconsistent in college. In this past NCAA tournament, she averaged 14.4 points, 4.2 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game, despite her 34-point performance against Syracuse. 

Her past with injuries makes that doubt grow about whether Fudd can sustain the highest level in the long term. The ACL is something that can trouble players as they age. The same goes for Bueckers. Her rookie season was one of the best in recent memory but there are tests to come. Considering everything, Fam could have been the better choice. 

“I think Awa Fam could be one of the best players in the league if things work out. It’s a risk.” Merchant further said.  “But I think this is your chance. This is your one opportunity to take a big swing. It’s not as if you can’t backfill the roster in free agency.”

Fam has multiple things going for her. She is younger than Fudd, being just 19 years old as an international prospect. The Spanish center has more time to develop before she gets into her prime. In addition to that, she has already played with and against WNBA-caliber players in the Spanish and Euro League. Something Fudd hasn’t yet. 

However, the decision on Fudd was seemingly decided months back to address their immediate need. “We’ve known for a while. Unfortunately last year we really struggled shooting the ball, particularly from beyond the three-point arc, and that’s exactly what Azzi’s strengths are. She is a great fit for us, along with being a great person,” Wings CEO Gregg Bibb said. “She’ll be a great teammate and a great ambassador for the organization in Dallas.”

The Wings did rank 9th in the league at their 3-point percentage (30.4%). So, Fudd does address this immediate need. And the Wings added Alanna Smith, Jessica Shepherd and Awaik Kuier in free agency, anticipating this move. “I will tell you that Azzi was our pick, is our pick. But the free agency success in the post made it crystal clear,” GM Curt Miller said.

But these are distinct ways of thinking. Merchant wants the Wings to think long-term rather than short-term. That kind of mentality has fired back on the Wings and teams throughout the league. 

Look at the Chicago Sky, they made a plethora of win-now moves last year and had to dismantle the team this offseason. Or, it could rather be that the Wings simply don’t believe Fam is a better talent than Fudd. Then there is a question of roster building.

“If you need a shooter in free agency, that’s doable, as opposed to finding a generational athlete,” Merchant said. “We haven’t seen players with her type of fluidity and size in the halfcourt. It just feels like a big opportunity to pass up.”

Awa Fam is an A’ja Wilson-esque rare archetype. She is her favorite athlete, and her game implies the same. She is quick around the rim, and her passing is higher than average for a center. Standing at 6’4″, she possesses the strength and agility that make her a unique prospect. Now, she will move to the Storm, pairing with Dominique Malonga. However, when viewing Azzi Fudd and Fam as more than just individual players, the conversation changes.

Azzi Fudd Explains the Synergy With Dallas Wings

Azzi Fudd has been at the top of mock drafts for more than just her time at UConn. It is also due to her relationship with Paige Bueckers and, more importantly, their connection on the court. The two had a very successful time at UConn, winning the National Championship last year. And after being drafted, Fudd admitted that Bueckers will make her transition easier. 

“I mean, Paige is an incredible player. Everybody knows that she’s someone that makes playing basketball with easy, and so I think just the prior experience knowing how to play with her, play off of her, will only help going into this,” Fudd said, when asked about her on-court chemistry with Bueckers.

Like Merchant said, maybe Fudd is not a top 5 player on her own. But she could be while playing with Paige Bueckers at point guard. Both could elevate one another in ways they haven’t thought of yet. The Wings wouldn’t have got this combination with Awa Fam. 

“We never wavered on what we needed. She was a right fit for this team,” coach Jose Fernandez said. “She was the right fit for the locker room.” 

For now, the Wings have backed fit and familiarity with Azzi Fudd. Whether that outweighs the long-term upside of Awa Fam is a question that only time, and the WNBA, can answer.