Olivia Miles isn’t just bending defenses in her rookie season, she’s forcing some uncomfortable debates around the hardwood. Her numbers for Minnesota are formidable to the point that many feel that she should have been the No. 1 draftee over Azzi Fudd. Now, WNBA analyst Caroline Fenton has weighed in on this debate.

“I think this is an unfair question because it was really like a highly contested debate,” Fenton said on Yahoo! Sports Daily. “Which one should it be? Should it be Azzi Fudd? Should it be Olivia Miles? So, if we’re going to have this debate, then it’s probably really close, right? Would Olivia Miles be playing like this in Dallas? Maybe, but also maybe not.”

“I mean Dallas is bringing in a new coach. They’re bringing in so many new pieces. Whereas, in Minnesota, they are also dealing with some turnover on the roster, but Cheryl Reeve is one of the most well-respected coaches, not just in women’s basketball, but in basketball, period. They’ve got a pretty good thing going in Minnesota. So, I think we can play revisionist history all day long and say that Olivia would have been the better pick,” she added.

Fenton’s assessment seems to be on point. A rookie’s development within a team largely reflects how the coaches use them. For instance, Fudd was never an outright starter in Dallas. She recorded crucial performances off the bench to establish her place in the starting five.

Meanwhile, Miles was directly tasked with anchoring Minnesota’s offense from the first game. This slight distinction in their usage largely impacts their current position within their respective teams. Secondly, Fudd arrived during a transition period for the Wings.

The franchise is looking to move on from Chris Koclanes to slowly build the team with Jose Fernandez at the helm. On the other hand, Minnesota has stability, with Cheryl Reeve continuing her stint with the franchise. These differences might also play a major role in Miles’s outright success and Fudd’s slow progress, as Fenton hinted.

It’s true that Miles has taken the league by storm in her first few games in the league. In fact, she even has a shot at history, matching Caitlin Clark. For context, Fudd is averaging 17.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game. If the Lynx guard can keep up with these numbers throughout the season, it will make her the only rookie besides Clark to average 15/5/5 as per Polymarket Hoops.

This is just a slight backdrop of how Miles’ rookie season is shaping up. Her counterpart, Fudd, is clearly trailing behind at the moment. But the Wings guard has definitely shown glimpses of her skill set this season.

Fudd has recorded back-to-back 20+ point games against the NY Liberty and the Las Vegas Aces. But the consistency in such performances is severely lacking in Fudd’s case. At the moment, Fudd is averaging just 11.4 ppg, 1.2 rpg, and 1.1 apg. The numbers clearly diminish the Wings guard’s case against Miles.

But even then, it doesn’t provide a clear perspective of why Fudd shouldn’t have been a No. 1 draftee. Fudd’s ceiling still remains high despite the numbers. Her accurate shooting from beyond the arc can still bend defenses and terrorize opponents. Considering these factors, it would be fair to say that it’s just a matter of time before Fudd truly explodes in the league.

Miles’ performances definitely add weight to her case of being a No. 1 draftee. But for the Dallas Wings, the chemistry Azzi Fudd shares with Paige Bueckers might also play a major role in the franchise moving toward her as the No. 1 draft pick. But so far in the season, Fudd has yet to prove her prowess as the No. 1 pick against Miles.

Olivia Miles Gets the Better of Azzi Fudd Yet Again

The Dallas Wings-Minnesota Lynx clash on Tuesday set the stage for Azzi Fudd’s redemption arc. Olivia Miles and the Minnesota Lynx had already gotten the upper hand over Dallas last month, beating them 90-86. So, it was the perfect time for Fudd to settle the scores over Miles.

As reality set in, those hopes didn’t materialize on the court. The Minnesota Lynx clinched a second win over Dallas this season in a 76-100 blowout. And the player at the very center of this dominant night for Lynx was yet again their shining rookie, Olivia Miles.

Miles recorded a game-high 24 points, shooting 7 of 10 from the field and 2 of 3 from deep, along with 7 rebounds and 6 assists. Without a doubt, Miles was the offensive anchor for the Lynx on the night, recording a plus-minus of +18 in the game.

Meanwhile, Fudd had a torrid time on the court. Despite starting the game and logging 30 minutes, Fudd scored just 6 points. Her shooting was cold as she went just 2-for-12 from the field. Paige Bueckers did manage to put up some resistance, recording 23 points.

But at the end of the day, it was far from enough. Kayla McBride and Natasha Howard linked up with Miles perfectly, with both recording 20+ points. Minnesota was hot from the field, shooting 54% and 50% from beyond the arc.

With this win, Olivia Miles is 2-0 over Azzi Fudd in the WNBA. The argument is slowly drifting towards Miles at the moment, and rightly so, with the performance of the No. 2 draftee. However, it’s just the initial phase of this possible league-defining rivalry, and going forward, it’s definite that Fudd will have a say as well in these head-to-head contests.