Azzi Fudd says her WNBA defensive stats came from five years of UConn coaching

Dallas Wings rookie Azzi Fudd is putting together a first season that looks different than a lot of people expected. Not because of the scoring — everyone knew she could score — but because she’s leading all WNBA rookies in steals and blocks, and that part of her game has caught even her off guard a little.

Fudd is averaging 13.3 points, 1.9 assists and 1.7 rebounds while shooting 46.1 percent from the field and 37.3 percent from three. The numbers that stand out most: 1.7 steals and 0.9 blocks per game, best among first-year players in both categories.

“I came in just wanting to grow, wanting to learn,” Fudd told Melissa Triebwasser. “Knew I was going to be aggressive, knew I was going to take pride in my defense, but it’s not something I was looking to, like, ‘Oh, I want to get this many blocks, many steals, this many that.’ I just wanted to make things difficult for the other team.”

She admitted she’s both surprised and not shocked by how much her defense has translated to the pros. Playing against the best guards in the world every night is a challenge she said she looks forward to.

Geno Auriemma’s voice in her ear

Fudd credited UConn coach Geno Auriemma for where her defensive instincts come from. She was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft after five years with the Huskies, and Auriemma apparently told her she was the most conservative player on his roster when it came to going for steals. So he coached her constantly on the little things — hand placement, reading passing lanes, timing.

“I feel like really just like paying attention to those little details and how can I have my hands out in the passing lane, just little things,” Fudd said. “And I think having that being repeated in my ear for five years straight, and wanting to carry that over to the league, it’s one of those things that’s helped.”

So far it’s worked. Her steal and block numbers are legit, and she’s doing it while guarding players who’ve been All-Stars for years.

The Wings are still figuring things out as a team, but Fudd looks like a foundational piece in Dallas. Their next game is Sunday against the Los Angeles Sparks, and she’ll likely be matched up against another top guard. That’s exactly the kind of test she said she wanted.