On Wednesday, the Dallas Wings announced that star guard Azzi Fudd was out for the season with a knee injury. Fudd, who has a history of knee problems, will undergo a procedure on a knee that has sidelined her for the past two weeks.
What Azzi Fudd’s injury means for the Dallas Wings
The No. 1 overall pick will undergo a season-ending knee surgery
Noa Dalzell is a senior writer covering the WNBA and all of women’s basketball for Breakaway, SB Nation’s women’s sports vertical, as well as the Celtics for CelticsBlog.
In an Instagram story later Wednesday, Fudd thanked fans for their support, writing, “I know exactly what comes next: rehab, put in the work, come back ready and better than before. Grateful for my family, my circle, and the Wings organization for the support. Thank you for all the messages today. They mean a lot to me.”
Fudd’s rookie season ended with her averaging 13.1 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.8 blocks across 30 games. Among rookies, she ranked fourth in points per game and first in made 3-pointers.
Notably, Dallas was a lot better with Fudd on the floor than off of it; she led the Wings with a +13.1 net rating. The Wings had a 6.9 net rating in the 950 minutes Fudd played this season, the highest among all of the team’s players. At the same time, Dallas has had a -6.2 net rating in the 500 minutes that Fudd has been off the court.
The Wings have gone 1-4 in Fudd’s sidelining — dropping games to the Golden State Valkyries (twice), Indiana Fever, and Minnesota Lynx. Paige Bueckers, the team’s MVP candidate, has led the team in scoring in each of the last 5 games.
The Wings’ recent slide has worsened their record to 20-16; they now have a 4.5-game lead over the Portland Fire for the 8th and final playoff spot.
Odyssey Sims becomes increasingly important in Azzi Fudd’s absence
In Fudd’s absence, veteran guard Odyssey Sims has seen an increase in opportunities. The 34-year-old veteran has come off the bench for most of the season, averaging 3 points and 1.7 assists in those spots.
But as a starter, she’s averaged 8.9 points and 2.9 assists per game — and she’s coming off a season in which she averaged 10.3 points and 4 assists in 12 games for the Indiana Fever. So, while her offensive role has been fairly limited for the Wings, she now has the chance to step up.
Still, regardless of that, it will be hard for the Wings to find a defensive replacement for Fudd, who quickly established herself as one of the team’s top perimeter stoppers. The Wings have the fourth-worst defense among playoff teams, and have been far better with Fudd on the floor. While Sims can provide scoring and playmaking, she’s a clear step down from Fudd on the defensive end.
Azzi Fudd’s overall health takes center stage
The big picture concern for the Dallas Wings is Fudd’s long-term health. The No. 1 overall pick had a strong rookie season, and it’s no shock that, on the heels of an entire college basketball season, she suffered an injury — there’s a long history of that happening to guards in the WNBA.
Still, it’s impossible to ignore Fudd’s injury history when assessing the severity of this development; she appeared in just 42 games over her first three seasons at the University of Connecticut before playing in 73 of 79 in her final two seasons. She tore her same right ACL and MCL in high school, and again in college.
The Wings haven’t shared a ton of information regarding this upcoming procedure, but it’s inherently more concerning that Fudd has a long history of knee issues.
For now, the Wings are focused on a looming playoff run. Even before Fudd’s injury, it seemed unlikely that Dallas would contend for a title this season. Now, with one of their best players down, a championship feels even further away.
Still, this season has marked a significant improvement from last season, when the Wings went 10-34 and finished with the league’s worst record. This season is one that the Wings will look to build upon — with a fully healthy Azzi Fudd hopefully back in the fold.
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