Dallas Wings rookie guard Azzi Fudd, coming off her best game of the season, a 24-point effort in a win over the New York Liberty, got the first start of her WNBA career against A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces on Thursday at College Park Center.
Fudd got a loud roar of applause upon being introduced and seemingly played with a spark, starting the game off aggressively in the first half. She joked about being forced to dance by her teammates.
“They did make me do that, but obviously it’s amazing,” she said. “Anytime I can step on the floor with this group, it’s an honor, and I don’t take it lightly. So, again, to be on the floor, whether it’s coming off the bench, starting super grateful.”
Azzi Fudd introduced as a member of the starting lineup for the first time in her career pic.twitter.com/TulFtvpRWd
She was the team’s leading scorer alongside Jessica Shepard, generating great looks off cuts and constant motion. (Shepard also had a monster game with 20 rebounds and 10 assists to go with the 22 points.)
Fudd’s defense was also strong, exemplified by a possession near the end of the first half when she forced Aces star Jackie Young into a heave. Fudd helped hold Young to 4-of-14 first-half shooting.
“She did a really, really good job in the second half,” Wings head coach Jose Fernandez said, “Vegas is tough to guard, because they can get downhill, they can spread you out at the 3-point line.”
Fudd started the second half with the Wings’ first bucket, her second 3-pointer of the game, and kept the aggression going, finishing the game with 9-of-15 shooting with three rebounds and two assists.
“I think just feeling more comfortable each game,” Fudd said. “Being aggressive, first of all not hesitating when I’m open, when [Shepard] and [Awak Kuier] and them set me great screens, not hesitating to use them, but I think just reading what the game has given me, not ever trying to force the score.”
Fudd’s two-way play gave the Wings (5-3) a four point lead in the fourth quarter with 6:32 left after she forced a tough layup attempt by Chelsea Gray and then grabbed a contested board, pushed the pace and hit a layup.
Fudd’s last 3 of the game came with 4:15 left and was part of an 11-2 run that sealed the win over the Aces (4-3).
“She’s very confident in her shot, and I think, too her teammates find her, which they should, right?” Fernandez said. “But what I like, when people take away, and they crowd her, that she can get to her shot either going right or left, right? So I like seeing her being so aggressive, putting the ball in the back, like she has been.”
Lawrence Dow is a digital sports reporter from Philadelphia. He graduated with a master’s degree in journalism from USC. He’s passionate about movies and is always looking for a great book. He covers the Texas Rangers and other sports.
