Dallas Wings rookie Azzi Fudd just made WNBA history, but it came wrapped in a gut-wrenching 99-98 overtime loss to the New York Liberty on Monday night. Fudd, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, hit an impressive defensive milestone, recording her 22nd block through the first 25 games of her WNBA career. That’s the most by any guard over that span since the legendary Alana Beard. This isn’t just a casual stat; this is a mark that sets her apart from every other guard who has entered the league in over half a decade.
Fudd’s Defensive Feat Is Unprecedented for a Guard
Talk about serious company. Alana Beard, a former Washington Mystics star, went on to win consecutive Defensive Player of the Year awards in 2017 and 2018. To be mentioned in the same breath as Beard, especially as a rookie, shows just how special Fudd’s early production is. Polymarket Hoops confirmed no guard since Beard has posted more blocks through their first 25 career games, even tweeting that Beard “went on to win 2 DPOYs.” Blocks are usually a big’s game, right? Centers and power forwards are the ones swatting shots, but Fudd, at just 5-11, is doing it from the perimeter. She’s not relying on imposing size; it’s all about pure anticipation, perfect timing, and relentless discipline to disrupt shots. Averaging nearly one block per game, Fudd is already flashing undeniable signs that she could develop into one of the league’s absolute best two-way guards. That DPOY trophy might be a long way off, but her early production suggests she could absolutely become a legitimate threat for that award down the line.
A Stunning Collapse in the Big Apple
While Fudd was busy making history on one end, the Wings let a golden opportunity for a statement win slip through their fingers. Dallas started the second half with an incredible 18-3 run, completely shutting down the Liberty and holding New York to a measly nine points in the entire third quarter. They carried a solid nine-point advantage into the fourth, looking like they were cruising effortlessly to their seventh consecutive victory. But the Liberty, fueled by Breanna Stewart’s dominant 33 points and Sabrina Ionescu’s clutch 12 points in overtime, completely flipped the script. It was a crushing blow for Dallas, who seemed to lose their aggressive edge as the game wore on. Fudd herself was contributing at both ends, finishing with 15 points, two assists, one rebound, and that historic block in 43 crucial minutes. She shot an efficient 6-of-13 from the field and a sharp 3-of-6 from deep. This was a larger offensive role for Fudd, too, with All-Star guard Paige Bueckers unavailable, still in concussion protocol after colliding with Nneka Ogwumike in Sunday’s victory over the Los Angeles Sparks.
The Game Plan Went Sideways
The big question now is, what exactly happened to that dominant third-quarter play that had them in control? Fudd was pretty clear on what she saw go wrong. “I think we just started to slow down a little,” Fudd told The Dallas Morning News. “I think we stopped pushing the pace as much, which is something that we did in the third quarter. And I think if we had just stuck with that, who knows. We got away from what was working for us.” Arike Ogunbowale did absolutely everything she could to salvage the game, leading Dallas with 29 points, six assists, and five rebounds, even forcing overtime with two clutch free throws with just 3.5 seconds left in regulation. But in the end, it wasn’t enough. For a team on a six-game win streak, letting this one go after such a strong showing has to sting. The individual brilliance of Fudd’s defensive record is undeniable, a massive positive for her rookie campaign, but the team’s inability to close out tight games like this will definitely be the focus as they move forward.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply