All Azzi Fudd needed was just one start. It took the Dallas Wings rookie only seven games to break into the starting lineup, and she made sure to make it count.

In their latest matchup against the Las Vegas Aces, the Wings stunned everyone and came out as the victors. And while Fudd’s breakout night will be the obvious headline, it was a postgame moment between the Wings star and WNBA legend Cynthia Cooper that truly stood out, especially after the league itself chose to acknowledge it.

As fans erupted in cheers after the game, the 23-year-old made her way toward the sideline where Hall of Famer Cooper was standing. What followed was a warm, genuine exchange between the rookie and the four-time WNBA champion as they hugged and shared a few words. While it could have easily been seen as a simple postgame moment, the league saw it as the passing of the torch between two eras as they posted their clip on X with the caption: “From one generation to the next 🧡”

But as meaningful as that moment was, Fudd’s biggest moment still came on the court.

From the opening minute, Azzi Fudd looked fully locked in, attacked space with confidence, and never hesitated when the ball found her in rhythm. But the best part about it all was that she looked comfortable in every play.

She went on to finish the night with 22 points by shooting efficiently from beyond the arc (3-5) to tie for the most points in the game with Jessica Shepard. But that’s not all, she also chipped in with 2 assists and 3 rebounds that helped the Wings stay ahead even when the Aces tried to speed up the pace and test her on the perimeter.

Her impact stretched beyond the box score as well. Fudd was active defensively from the opening quarter and consistently punished Las Vegas whenever defenders lost track of her off screens. Several of Dallas’ biggest offensive possessions came with the rookie either creating space for herself or capitalizing on opportunities generated by the attention drawn toward Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale.

However, it is worth noting that her confident side didn’t just come out randomly in this game. It has been slowly building.

When the Wings locked horns with the New York Liberty on May 24th, she delivered a career-high 24-point performance by drilling six three-pointers. So that performance didn’t just put her on the map – it forced the Wings to rethink how quickly she needed to be integrated into the starting unit.

That outing was particularly significant because it came against the defending Eastern Conference champions on a national stage. Fudd scored 17 of her 24 points in the third quarter alone, helping Dallas pull away in a game that became her first true breakout performance as a professional.

Now, those two performances have led her to become the only rookie in the WNBA this season with multiple 20+ point games, which has only strengthened the buzz building around her impact.

The timing could hardly be better for Dallas. After winning just 19 games combined over the previous two seasons, the Wings have opened 2026 looking far more competitive, with Fudd’s rapid development becoming one of the biggest reasons for that early-season optimism.

A’ja Wilson tips her hat to Azzi Fudd

It hasn’t even been a month into the 2026 WNBA season, but Fudd has already earned the respect of one of the league’s top stars.

Before the tipoff, Aces superstar A’ja Wilson spoke highly of the rookie guard and her early adjustment to the WNBA, saying she always expected Fudd to handle the transition well.

“I feel like she was someone that I always felt like was going to have a smooth transition because of her approach to the game,” Wilson said as per Landon Buford. “It’s very professional-like already, even in college.”

That same poise has also stood out to Wings head coach Jose Fernandez, who praised Fudd’s willingness to stay aggressive regardless of whether shots were falling. Fernandez noted that defenders can no longer simply run her off the three-point line because she has become increasingly comfortable attacking either direction and getting to her spots off screens.

Wilson also highlighted Azzi Fudd’s mentality as a key factor in her early success.

“I feel like in college I would always have slip-ups, but it felt like when it came to Azzi, she just was so steady-minded. Her mental is always so tough,” Wilson added. “So, her transition doesn’t come by any surprise by me.”

That kind of praise carries weight, especially coming from a player who has lived through the pressure of being a No. 1 overall pick and turned it into multiple MVP seasons and championships.

For a player who is still in the early stages of her WNBA journey, that kind of recognition says just as much as the box score.

Fudd echoed that mindset after the win, saying she is simply focused on becoming more comfortable each game and staying aggressive whenever opportunities present themselves, regardless of whether she starts or comes off the bench.

So, considering all the things that happened tonight for Azzi Fudd and all the things she has done so far, it makes sense why the Wings made the move to trust her in the starting lineup in the first place.

And after following a 24-point breakout against New York with a 22-point performance in her first career start against the defending champions, that decision already looks justified.