Olympic Gold Medalist Makes Bold Paige Bueckers Prediction for WNBA 2026 Season

“To be able to spend these four years—whether we were both on the court, both out, one on the court… I feel like it’s been incredibly special just to have those moments with her, be able to learn from her,” Azzi Fudd shared before playing her final game last year with Paige Bueckers. After injuries and joining the Huskies a year apart limited their playing time together, 2024-25 made up for it all. The two finally lifted the trophy together. But that hasn’t been enough, not when they are out with their relationship now.

After weeks and weeks of speculation and oh-so-obvious hints, Bueckers finally soft launched her relationship with Fudd during an All-Star weekend interview. Having watched them together for 4 years in Storrs and then some as Paige adorned Dallas colors with Fudd in the stands, it’s not hard to see why people are now rooting for the duo to reunite—this time in the WNBA. So much so that some might even speculate the Dallas might be throwing away their season in an attempt to get a lottery pick instead.

With Chris Koclanes & Co.’s struggling with an 8–22 record, making the playoffs feels like a distant dream. So the crew on Just Women’s Sports got around to discussing the possibility. “So, y’all are so bad, you need to pick first again,” BJ Beckwith remarked. But once they deduced that Azzi Fudd could land in Dallas if that’s true, they were all nods, including World Cup champion, Olympic gold medalist, and aspiring barista Kelley O’Hara!

“Yeah, that [to reunite our favorite couple] would be… if that’s actually what they’re doing—if you’re Paige you’re like yay—but also, you just have to kind of chill the rest of the season,” O’Hara shared. And honestly, Paige getting Fudd on the same team isn’t something new, right? We’ve seen this play out before. While it may seem unconventional, Bueckers once took recruiting to the next level by creating a highlight tape focused entirely on her passing—specifically to show how many open shots Azzi would get if she joined UConn.

As Fudd had recalled, Bueckers AirDropped the clip to Fudd’s family, saying: “These are the passes I’ll get you… you’ll get all these open shots if you come to UConn next year.” Reflecting on it, Fudd smiled wryly: “I’m just shaking my head, my parents are laughing. But it was a Paige moment.”

Really, it was. But Bueckers didn’t just stop at visuals. She also offered personal support and reassurance when Fudd considered the high expectations at UConn. When the Final Four MOP admitted she felt nervous about meeting the Huskies’ standard, Bueckers calmly normalized the transition: “This is nothing different than what you do. It’s just basketball. It’s what you love.” And we all know what happened next—those efforts paid off. Fudd committed to UConn on her 18th birthday (November 11, 2020), choosing the Huskies over multiple top-tier programs.

Now, after an injury-hampered freshman year, Fudd is back at UConn, while Bueckers is lighting it up in Dallas. So next year, could PB use a little bit of her magic again to help Fudd land in Dallas? Maybe. But can she really pull it off?

Neither Paige Bueckers nor Dallas Wings can help Azzi Fudd!

Well, the process to get Fudd to Dallas isn’t exactly easy. For starters, securing back-to-back No. 1 picks in the WNBA Draft is rare, though it’s happened before. But, Wings? They haven’t achieved this yet, but other teams have. Remember the Seattle Storm? They picked Lauren Jackson (2001) and Sue Bird (2002); later, Jewell Loyd (2015) and Breanna Stewart (2016). The Las Vegas Aces (formerly the San Antonio Stars) selected Kelsey Plum (2017), A’ja Wilson (2018), and Jackie Young (2019)—three consecutive No. 1 picks. Most recently, the Indiana Fever drafted Aliyah Boston (2023) and Caitlin Clark (2024).

So yes, it’s possible. And to make it more interesting, teams—including the Wings—can obtain pick-swap rights through trades. So, Dallas currently holds the right to swap first-round picks with the Chicago Sky in 2025, if needed. And since both Sky and Dallas are currently near the bottom of the standings, that option could prove critical.

But the real gamble lies in how the WNBA handles the top picks in 2026. As Kelley O’Hara puts it: “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,” she shared.

And yes, that’s true too. Betts, a standout at UCLA, is the projected No. 1 overall pick. A dominant 6’7″ center with elite two-way capabilities, she averages 20.2 PPG, 9.5 RPG, and 2.9 BPG while shooting an efficient 64.8% from the field. Her polished inside presence, shot-blocking, and rim dominance make her one of the most coveted talents.

On the other hand, Fudd—UConn standout and projected No. 2 overall pick—is a smooth 5’11” shooting guard, known for her sharpshooting, particularly beyond the arc. She’s averaging 13.6 PPG, 2.0 RPG, and 1.8 APG, with an impressive 43.6% 3-point percentage. So yeah, both are game-changers. But let’s be real, for now, fans just want PB and Azzi back together, right? Still, despite all the speculation, projections, and wishful thinking… you never really know what might happen next!