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The highly anticipated 30th WNBA play tipped disconnected Friday pinch 3 games, including nan description Toronto Tempo’s first-ever contest.
The action continued Saturday pinch a afloat slate, including Caitlin Clark’s return aft an injury-riddled sophomore season.
Clark and nan Indiana Fever hosted nan Dallas Wings connected Saturday day successful a matchup featuring nan 4 astir caller No. 1 wide picks. The Wings outlasted nan Fever 107-104, but nan crippled was defined by Azzi Fudd’s — nan astir caller apical prime — underwhelming debut.
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Dallas Wings guards Azzi Fudd and Paige Bueckers respond during nan first half of nan Fever’s play opener astatine Gainbridge Fieldhouse successful Indianapolis connected May 9, 2026. (Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Fudd played 18 minutes disconnected nan bench, scoring 3 points — nan lowest ever by a No. 1 wide prime successful a WNBA debut.
Wings coach Jose Fernandez addressed Fudd’s capacity aft nan game, encouraging nan rookie to, "Keep doing what she’s doing, it’s her first twelvemonth successful nan league. We sewage 5 really talented backcourt players."
EX-WNBA STAR CRITICAL OF SKY ROOKIE HAILEY VAN LITH, BELIEVES POPULARITY PLAYED ROLE IN DRAFT SELECTION
In summation to Fudd, Dallas’ backcourt features past year’s apical draught prime Paige Bueckers, past season’s No. 12 wide prime Aziaha James, four-time All-Star Arike Ogunbowale and starting defender Odyssey Sims.
Until Saturday, Kelsey Plum held nan grounds for nan lowest-scoring debut by a No. 1 pick. Selected first wide by nan then-San Antonio Stars successful 2017, she scored conscionable 4 points successful her debut. The Stars relocated to Las Vegas successful 2018 and was subsequently rebranded arsenic nan Aces.
Dallas Wings defender Azzi Fudd warms up earlier nan crippled against nan Indiana Fever astatine Gainbridge Fieldhouse successful Indianapolis, Indiana, connected May 9, 2026. (Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
Despite nan slow commencement to her first play successful nan league, Plum ended nan twelvemonth pinch All-Rookie squad honors. In nan years since, she's been named to 4 All-Star teams and won 2 championships pinch the Aces.
The Wings’ determination to return Fudd pinch nan No. 1 wide prime drew controversy, raising questions astir whether Bueckers’ individual narration pinch her influenced nan selection. Late past month, Bueckers said past period it did not.
Azzi Fudd poses pinch WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert aft being selected first wide by nan Dallas Wings during nan 2026 WNBA Draft astatine The Shed successful New York City connected April 13, 2026. (Angelina Katsanis/Getty Images)
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"Azzi Fudd was nan No. 1 draught prime because she earned it, and it had thing to do pinch maine and everything to do pinch who she is arsenic a quality being, who she is arsenic a hoops player," Bueckers said, according to ESPN.
Neither Bueckers nor Fudd has publically updated their narration position since nan April draft.
"Quite frankly, I judge maine and Azzi’s individual narration is nobody’s business but our own," Bueckers besides said successful April. "And what we take to stock is wholly up to us."
Next up, nan Wings play their location opener connected Tuesday erstwhile they big nan Atlanta Dream.
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Chantz Martin is simply a sports writer for Fox News Digital.
