Azzi Fudd ‘21 Goes First In WNBA Draft
Azzi Fudd, St. John’s 2021 alumna was the first overall pick in the WNBA Draft. Azzi is headed to the Dallas Wings for her rookie season after spending five seasons at the Univeristy of Connecticut. She will play alongside another Cadet, Lindsay Allen ‘13 and be reunited with her UConn teammate and fellow number one pick, Paige Bueckers in Dallas. She adds to a legacy of great DMV hoopers, alongside Kiki Rice from Sidwell and UCLA who was also drafted on Monday to the Toronto Tempo.
Lindsay Allen played at Notre Dame after graduating from SJC and was drafted 14th overall to the New York Liberty in 2017. She has since played for multiple professional teams in the WNBA and overseas, signing to the Wings in free agency last week. Azzi first played with Paige Bueckers on the Women’s U16 National Team in 2017, then after forming a close relationship followed her to UConn. Paige even traveled from Minnesota to watch some of Azzi’s games here in Gallagher Gymnasium. Though injuries restricted the number of games they played together, the stellar backcourt duo led their team to a program 12th national championship (their first since 2016) in 2025, where Azzi was named Most Outstanding Player.
The draft was a very full circle moment and testament to Azzi’s perseverance. She was picked first overall on the seven year anniversary of the her first ACL and MCL tear on April 13th, 2019. Though she suffered her first major injury in high school, there was more to come throughout her collegiate career. She missed 33 games between her freshman and sophomore seasons, and a re-tear of her right ACL and meniscus very early in her junior season kept her out for that year and the beginning of her senior season.
After overcoming a multitude of injuries, this past season in her fifth year she was able to play her first full season and put up career statistics. She averaged 17.4 points per game, on 48% field goal accuracy, and 44% three-point accuracy. These performances landed her on multiple First Team All American lists. She will be a sharpshooter for Dallas on Bueckers’ flashy assists.
Azzi has remained connected to the St. John’s and DMV community by maintaining relationships with teachers, giving back to our girls’ basketball team, and hosting Azzi Fudd’s Hooping for a Cure Basketball Camp on campus annually. Her father, Tim Fudd, is still on the coaching staff for the girls’ basketball team.
The St. John’s community is so proud of what Azzi has accomplished so far and so excited to see her at the next level. The Cadets eyes are on Dallas!
