Azzi Fudd and Paige Bueckers in their UConn days.LAPRESSE

Anticipation for the 2025 WNBA Draft continues to rise, and few prospects have generated as much intrigue as Azzi Fudd.

Her refined scoring ability and poised play have put her at the forefront of draft conversations, with increasing speculation about which franchise will secure her talent.

That debate intensified after Gabby Williams joined Fudd on her podcast, Fudd Around and Find Out.

In a moment that quickly caught attention online, the Seattle Storm guard joked about her draft preferences, telling Fudd, “I want you to have a great season, but not too good,” a clear hint that she hopes the sharpshooter is still available when Seattle selects at number three.

The top pick currently belongs to the Dallas Wings, and multiple projections place Fudd firmly in the mix for the first overall selection. One storyline pushing her even closer to Dallas is her connection to Paige Bueckers.

The pair, who are dating, once formed one of college basketball’s most electric backcourts at UConn, making the idea of reuniting them at the professional level particularly appealing.

Why teams are weighing Fudd’s shooting against her injury history

Should Fudd end up in Seattle instead, she and Bueckers would find themselves competing against one another several times throughout the season.

Many believe her skillset would mesh well with the Storm, especially after she posted a remarkable 50 percent mark from three last year.

The lone hesitation for evaluators remains her previous knee injuries, which caused her to miss significant time in consecutive seasons. Her most recent campaign, however, was her most stable and showcased her ability to stay on the court.

The discussion gained further depth when analyst Chiney Ogwumike offered her perspective on NBA Today, stating, “With the No. 1 still being up for grabs, that situation being fluid, one thing that translates in the WNBA is shooting. I would not be surprised if Azzi Fudd is the No. 1 pick.”

She went on to urge Dallas to “shoot their shot at that,” calling Fudd “one of the best, if not the best shooter in the draft.”

Given the Wings‘ struggles from long range last season and Fudd‘s standout showings, including her performance at the Basketball Hall of Fame Showcase, her path to Dallas appears increasingly realistic, even if it is not the outcome Williams is rooting for.