Azzi Fudd Just Did Something No WNBA Rookie Has Done in 24 Years

The Dallas Wings are on a heater, and Azzi Fudd is making history in the process.

Dallas beat the Chicago Sky 96-91 on Sunday at American Airlines Center, extending their win streak to five games. That’s the longest for the franchise since 2023. The Wings are now 16-8 overall, with a 7-3 mark at home. Chicago dropped to 7-16 and lost for the fourth time in five tries on the road.

But the real story from Sunday is what Fudd accomplished.

The rookie guard became the fastest player to reach 40 three-pointers and 40 steals in a season since Tamika Catchings did it in 2002. Fudd hit both marks in just 23 games. Catchings did it in 19 games during her Rookie of the Year campaign back in 2002, according to Real App. So the record still belongs to Catchings. But Fudd’s pace is notable for a first-year player still adjusting to the league.

Fudd finished with 16 points, three assists, and two steals against the Sky. She buried a big three-pointer with 3:38 left in the fourth quarter to tie the game, then stuffed Sydney Taylor on the other end to swing momentum. The Wings closed the game on a 15-5 run and outscored Chicago 30-18 in the fourth quarter alone.

Paige Bueckers led the Wings with 22 points, six rebounds, and 11 assists. Jessica Shepard added 19 points and 10 rebounds. Arike Ogunbowale chipped in 17 points. That’s four players in double figures, which is how Dallas wants to play.

Fudd’s rookie year has been uneven. That’s normal.

The No. 1 overall pick has flashed the shooting and defensive instincts that made her a star at UConn. But she’s also dealt with the typical rookie inconsistencies. Some nights she looks unstoppable. Other nights the game moves a little fast. That’s not a hot take — it’s what happens to most first-year players.

The good news for the Wings: Fudd can learn from Bueckers, who was Dallas’ first-round pick last year and is playing like an MVP candidate. Bueckers has been a mentor on and off the floor. Fudd said after the game that watching how Bueckers reads defenses and manages possessions has been invaluable. The Wings have not confirmed any formal mentorship arrangement, but the dynamic is obvious to anyone watching.

Dallas has a chance to make WNBA history this season. If Fudd wins Rookie of the Year, the Wings would become the fourth franchise with back-to-back ROTY winners. The Seattle Storm did it with Jewell Loyd in 2015 and Breanna Stewart in 2016. The Minnesota Lynx followed with Napheesa Collier in 2019 and Crystal Dangerfield in 2020. The Indiana Fever are the most recent, with Aliyah Boston in 2023 and Caitlin Clark in 2024.

The Wings haven’t confirmed anything about Fudd’s candidacy. But if she keeps playing like this, the conversation will take care of itself.