Paige Bueckers had to tell reporters to back off at the recent Dallas Wings media day. Bueckers said her relationship with new teammate Azzi Fudd “is nobody’s business but our own,” a statement that quickly quieted the buzz that sparked when Fudd joined the team this month.
Bueckers planned to address her relationship only this time at the media day and never again; if they continued to ask, she would just deflect and curve the question.
Bueckers and Fudd’s history of being on the court together goes way back before college. They used to go against each other in high school, and then they became a fantastic backcourt duo at UConn.
The Dallas Wings reunited Bueckers and Fudd earlier in April when they selected Fudd as the No.1 overall pick in this year’s WNBA Draft. The pair confirmed they started dating last year, but have kept their relationship very private, sharing a few details since then. It is currently unclear if they are still together.
Bueckers and Fudd’s History
There’s no doubt that it’s their right to keep their fans in the dark if they wish. It is also how players in the WNBA always moved with their relationships.
While the WNBA starts up its 30th season, the league is no stranger to players having romantic relationships. Bueckers went public about her relationship with Fudd in July 2025 and hasn’t spoken on it since last summer.
The two were both No.1 recruits out of high school, teammates at UConn for four years, and won a national championship together in 2025. They have been very close since their high school days when they played together on USA Basketball.
“Me and Azzi have always been the utmost professionals,” Bueckers, who won WNBA Rookie of the Year, said to the press. “We’ve always conducted ourselves as such, and we’ve never let anything that happens off the court carry onto the court.”
WNBA fans are still questioning why Azzi Fudd landed on the same team as her close friend and partner, Paige Bueckers.
Many believe Fudd was picked first by the Wings only because Bueckers, who has some influence in the Wings’ front office, recommended her to keep their Love and Basketball story going.
How Will This Duo Develop in the WNBA?
After Fudd got drafted, she was excited to be reunited with her lifelong teammate and described it as being really special.
In an interview with the Dallas ABC affiliate, WFAA, Fudd said, “So special. I have no control over where I get drafted, and I get to play with my best friend again. So it really is special.” She also added that the two will have a big impact on the court, benefiting from their established chemistry and understanding of each other’s game.
Meanwhile, in the front office, Wings general manager Curt Miller preached that the organization had a critical evaluation process during the draft class, even scouting for talent overseas, but it all came right back to Azzi being the standout pick.
The 5-foot-11 guard averaged 17 points and managed to shoot 45% from the three-point arc as a senior at UConn. She will provide Dallas with more shooters on the perimeter, something that they failed to do last season.
While new WNBA fans might focus on the players’ relationships and personal lives, for the athletes, it’s just a regular job.
The Wings kick off their season on May 9 against the Indiana Fever, which will be the matchup between the past four No.1 picks
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