Everyone around the WNBA is hyped about the WNBA Draft. The last three number 1 picks have taken the league by storm, and there is anticipation building to see who becomes the top pick this time. The Dallas Wings have the first pick again and could look to pair Paige Bueckers with her former UConn teammate Azzi Fudd.

The pairing led the UConn Huskies to the 2024-25 NCAAW title before the Dallas Wings drafted Bueckers. Another option for Dallas is 19-year-old Awa Fam, who is playing in Europe right now. It will be a tough decision for Dallas Head Coach Jose Fernandez to make.

Basketball analyst Sabreena Merchant has pointed out one key aspect that could shape the franchise’s decision. Head Coach Jose Fernandez has a reputation for recruiting international talent, which could influence the ultimate decision during the WNBA Draft.

Speaking on the No Offseason podcast, Sabreena said, “I think I have Awa Fam going to Dallas. She’s a Spanish center, 19 years old, hyper athletic, like the way she just explodes off of screens in the half-court, mimics drivers as a defender. She just has really good physical defensive tools.”

“Offensively, I think there’s still a lot of cleaning up to be done in terms of her jumper, and her finishing right around the basket’s pretty good. We just hired Jos Fernandez, who has made his living even at the college game, recruiting international players.”

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Jose Fernandez arrived in Dallas after spending twenty-five years with the South Florida Bulls Women’s Basketball team. The 54-year-old has, at one point, even fielded rosters with over 10 international players at USF. But Jose also turned the South Florida Bulls into a powerhouse team, making them a regular feature in National Tournaments.

The Dallas Wings could look to replicate the Indiana Fever system and put themselves into contention by pairing Paige Bueckers with a menacing frontcourt presence like Awa Fam. The Fever paired Aliyah Boston with star guard Caitlin Clark with back-to-back first picks, and they are reaping the benefits of that pairing now.

Alternatively, Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd have already built up chemistry and are proven to complement each other on the court. To add to it, Awa Fam could take some time in adjusting to the rigors of the WNBA, whereas Fudd has already had a taste of it in Women’s College Basketball.

The decision is surely going to be a tough one for Dallas, which hopes this offseason can spring them into competition for the postseason.

Paige Bueckers falls short in Unrivaled 1-on-1 Tournament

The 1-on-1 Tournament has been underway in Miami as part of the Unrivaled schedule. The unique event pits players up against each other, and Paige Bueckers was given the top seed in Pod B, thanks to fan voting. This gave Paige Bueckers the chance to add to her $50,000 winnings from the Free Throw Challenge in Unrivaled.

Her first matchup was against Kate Martin, which ended quickly in the 24-year-old’s favor. She faced fellow Dallas teammate Arike Ogunbowale next and quickly brushed her aside with a 12-4 score. However, Chelsea Gray proved too much for the Dallas Wings guard to handle, as she lost the matchup 11-2.

Paige Bueckers looked visibly frustrated after the loss, storming off the court after losing her shot at the $200,000 prize pool. Bueckers doesn’t possess the chance of winning the additional $10,000 purse, with none of her teammates remaining in the 1-on-1 Tournament.

Aliyah Boston, Allisha Gray, Chelsea Gray, and Kelsey Plum will battle it out to see who joins last year’s winner, Napheesa Collier, in the list of 1-on-1 conquerors.

Despite the defeat in the top 8, Paige Bueckers showed how much she has developed her isolation plays and skills, which would come in handy when the 2026 season starts.