Dallas Wings Win Lottery: Azzi Fudd to Dallas?
The Dallas Wings have officially won the WNBA Draft Lottery for the second year in a row, securing the No. 1 overall pick for the 2026 WNBA Draft. After landing Paige Bueckers with the top selection last year, the franchise now possesses an opportunity to pair her with another foundational piece.
The ping pong balls fell exactly according to the odds. The draft order held firm to the reverse standings, with the Minnesota Lynx (via Chicago) staying at No. 2, followed by the Seattle Storm (via Los Angeles) at No. 3, and the Washington Mystics at No. 4. The Chicago Sky (via Connecticut) round out the top five, completing a lottery that offered zero surprises but plenty of implications.
2026 WNBA Draft: Lottery Results & First Round Order
The draft lottery, held on Sunday, November 23, 2025, solidified the top of the draft board. Here is the complete order for the first round:
- Dallas Wings
- Minnesota Lynx (via Chicago Sky)
- Seattle Storm (via Los Angeles Sparks)
- Washington Mystics
- Chicago Sky (via Connecticut Sun)
- Toronto Tempo / Portland Fire (Expansion Franchise – Order TBD by coin flip)
- Portland Fire / Toronto Tempo (Expansion Franchise – Order TBD by coin flip)
- Golden State Valkyries
- Washington Mystics (via Seattle Storm)
- Indiana Fever
- Washington Mystics (via New York Liberty)
- Connecticut Sun (via Phoenix Mercury)
- Atlanta Dream
- Seattle Storm (via Las Vegas Aces)
- Connecticut Sun (via Minnesota Lynx)
(Note: The league expands to 15 teams for the 2026 season, meaning there are now 15 picks in the first round. Expansion teams Toronto and Portland slot in at 6 and 7, picking after the lottery teams but before the playoff teams.)
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The Consensus is… There is No Consensus
Unlike the 2024 and 2025 drafts, where Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers were the consensus picks from day one, the race for No. 1 in the 2026 draft appears narrowed to four players, each offering a completely different identity for the franchise that selects them.
The conversation starts in the paint with two contrasting bigs. Lauren Betts (UCLA) offers arguably the highest floor in the class—a 6-foot-7 anchor who brings immediate, elite rim protection and efficient interior scoring. She is the classic franchise center. On the other end of the spectrum is Awa Fam, the 19-year-old Spanish phenom. Fam is the modern unicorn: a 6-foot-4 mobile big who has already proven she can bang with pros in the EuroLeague. While Betts dominates with size and polish, Fam entices scouts with a ceiling that seems limitless, offering the kind of versatility that defines the modern WNBA.
Then there are the guards, who offer their own fascinating debate. Azzi Fudd (UConn) remains the purest shooter in the college game. Arguably the most lethal offensive weapon on the board, her shot is automatic. Finally, there is Olivia Miles (TCU), the draft’s top point guard. Miles is a floor general who makes her teammates better, pushing the pace with a flair that creates easy buckets and highlight reels in equal measure. She is a triple-double threat every night, capable of being the engine of a high-octane offense.
Dallas Strategy: Defining the Era
For the Wings, this pick isn’t just about acquiring talent; it’s about defining the identity of the Paige Bueckers era. With the face of their franchise already in place, Dallas has to decide which piece completes the puzzle.
Option 1: Azzi Fudd (The Chemistry Play) This is the scenario that will dominate social media discourse until draft night. Reuniting Bueckers with Fudd would recreate the dynamic they shared as former teammates. Fudd’s elite floor-spacing is the perfect complement to Bueckers’ slashing and playmaking, giving Dallas a “Splash Sisters” backcourt.
- The Vibe: High-octane offense and telepathic chemistry. It’s a highlight reel waiting to happen, bringing a level of excitement and star power that few other duos could match.
- The Risk: Drafting Fudd likely signals the end of the Arike Ogunbowale era, as a 3 guard lineup of Bueckers, Fudd, and Ogunbowale (2026 free agent) would be undersized and vulnerable on defense. Using the #1 pick on a guard ignores the team’s glaring need for a dominant frontcourt anchor, forcing them to rely on free agency to find size.
Paige Bueckers ➡️ Azzi Fudd pic.twitter.com/9p4efAvb2b
— UConn Women’s Basketball (@UConnWBB) January 30, 2025
Option 2: Lauren Betts (The Anchor Play) If Dallas wants to build a traditional contender, Betts is the pick. The Wings have arguably lacked a true, dominant defensive anchor and Betts solves that problem instantly. A Bueckers-Betts pick-and-roll would be devastatingly simple and effective—a classic pairing that gives the team structure and reliability on both ends.
- The Vibe: A balanced, inside-out juggernaut built for the future.
- The Risk: Offensive versatility and modern fit. Betts is a throwback center who operates almost exclusively in the paint. In a league trending toward “five-out” spacing, her lack of shooting range risks clogging the driving lanes for Paige Bueckers. Unless she develops a reliable jumper to stretch the floor, her presence could limit the team’s tactical flexibility, forcing Dallas into a slower, more predictable style of play.
Option 3: Awa Fam (The Modern Upside Play) This is the swing for the fences. Selecting Fam signals that Dallas isn’t just trying to win now, but trying to build for the future with a modern, positionless identity. The 19-year-old Spanish phenom is already holding her own against seasoned pros in the EuroLeague with Valencia Basket, showcasing a blend of size (6’4″), mobility, and passing vision that is rare for a center. It might require more patience than drafting Betts, but a frontcourt that can switch 1-through-5 and space the floor could revolutionize how the Wings play.
- The Vibe: A fast-paced lineup that prioritizes length and versatility over traditional roles.
- The Risk: The developmental timeline. Fam is arguably the rawest of the top prospects. While she is already playing professionally, she is still a teenager who will need time to adjust to the physicality and speed of the WNBA. Dallas, having just endured a lottery season, might not have the patience for a “project” when they have Bueckers ready to win now. Drafting Fam requires a commitment to development compared to a more “pro-ready” pick.
Option 4: Olivia Miles (The “Double Engine” Play) Drafting Miles would be a bold declaration that you can never have too much playmaking. Putting the ball in Miles’ hands would allow Bueckers to operate more as a pure scorer, hunting her shot off screens while Miles orchestrates the offense. A Miles-Bueckers pairing would arguably be the most fun backcourt in the league.
- The Vibe: “Showtime” pace. A relentless transition attack fueled by two elite passers.
- The Risk: Diminishing returns and defensive fit. Both Miles and Bueckers are at their best with the ball in their hands. While Bueckers can play off-ball, relegating her to a secondary playmaker role might neutralize some of her value. Defensively, a backcourt of Miles and Bueckers (plus potentially Arike Ogunbowale) lacks size and point-of-attack resistance. They would be electric offensively but could struggle to contain powerful guards or switch effectively, putting immense pressure on their frontcourt to clean up mistakes.
The Verdict? Go Get the Splash Sisters
While Lauren Betts is the pragmatic choice and Awa Fam is the fascinating one, Azzi Fudd is our pick.
The Wings have an opportunity to pair Paige Bueckers with the only player on earth who shares her basketball DNA. That level of chemistry cannot be taught, drafted, or developed—it simply exists. Yes, the defense will need work. But when you have the chance to unite two offensive talents who play perfectly off each other, you don’t overthink it. You take the shot.
Dallas should draft Azzi Fudd and figure out the rest later.
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