The Dallas Wings will have to navigate the final stretch of the WNBA regular season without their top rookie. The organization announced on Wednesday that guard Azzi Fudd, the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft, is scheduled for knee surgery that will effectively end her regular-season campaign. While the news is a setback for a team currently fighting to maintain its position in the standings, the procedure is expected to address lingering issues that have kept the young star off the court for the past several games.
What happened
Azzi Fudd is set to undergo an arthroscopic procedure on her right knee early next week in Connecticut. The decision follows a period of persistent soreness that has sidelined her since early August. Fudd last appeared in a game on August 5 against the Washington Mystics, where she played 34 minutes and recorded nine points and three steals. However, during pregame warmups for a matchup against the Golden State Valkyries just two days later, she experienced significant discomfort.
The Wings have kept Fudd on the bench for the last five contests, hoping the rest would alleviate the soreness. With the regular season winding down and the pain persisting, the medical team opted for surgery to ensure a full recovery. While Fudd will miss the remainder of the eight scheduled regular-season games, the recovery timeline is currently estimated at four to six weeks. This window suggests she could potentially return if the Wings make a deep postseason run, or at the very least, be ready for her offseason commitments.
Context
Fudd’s inaugural season in the WNBA has been impressive, living up to the hype of being the top selection. Before the injury, she averaged 13.1 points, 1.8 assists, and 1.7 rebounds per game, providing the Wings with a consistent perimeter threat and defensive energy. Her absence has already been felt; since she left the lineup, Dallas has struggled, dropping four of their last five games.
The Wings currently sit in eighth place in the league standings with a 20-16 record. This puts them in a precarious position as they attempt to secure a playoff berth for the first time since 2023. The loss of Fudd removes a double-digit scorer from the rotation at a time when every victory is critical. However, the team still boasts significant talent, led by star Paige Bueckers and veteran scoring machine Arike Ogunbowale, both of whom will be expected to shoulder a heavier load in Fudd’s absence.
Beyond the WNBA, Fudd has already committed to participating in Project B, a new international basketball league. This league is scheduled to debut in December and will run through April 2027, positioning itself as a competitor to the Miami-based 3-on-3 league, Unrivaled. Because her surgical recovery is expected to conclude by mid-autumn, Fudd remains on track to participate in the new league’s inaugural season.
Why it matters
The timing of this surgery is a significant blow to the Wings’ momentum. Entering the final eight games of the season, Dallas is barely holding onto the final playoff seed. The “rookie wall” is a common narrative in professional sports, but losing a cornerstone player to injury during a playoff race is a much tougher obstacle to overcome. The coaching staff must now reconfigure the backcourt rotation to compensate for Fudd’s 13.1 points per game and her defensive versatility.
Furthermore, this development highlights the physical toll of the WNBA schedule on high-usage rookies. Fudd has been a focal point of the Wings’ offense since day one, and the transition from the collegiate level to the professional ranks is notoriously grueling. Ensuring her long-term health is paramount for the franchise, as she is viewed as a foundational piece of their future success alongside Bueckers.
While the immediate future looks challenging for Dallas, the focus remains on the “next woman up” mentality. The veteran leadership of Ogunbowale will be tested as she leads a depleted roster through a gauntlet of late-season matchups, including a high-stakes clash with the Indiana Fever. If the Wings can survive this final stretch and qualify for the postseason, they hope to have a healthier, rejuvenated Fudd ready for the next chapter of her career.