Rookie Azzi Fudd Wins WNBA 3-Point Contest in Chicago

Azzi Fudd walked into the WNBA 3-Point Contest as the only rookie in the field and left Chicago with a trophy no first-year player has ever claimed before.

The Dallas Wings guard made history Friday night, becoming the first rookie to win the WNBA 3-Point Contest. She outshot five established stars, including Atlanta's Rhyne Howard and Toronto's Marina Mabrey, who had both competed in the event before.

Fudd stayed calm under pressure, moving around the perimeter and knocking down shots against players with years more professional experience. The contest featured traditional shooting spots plus challenging three-point "From the Logo" attempts, but the added difficulty couldn't stop her from making history.

The victory is even sweeter considering the path Fudd traveled to get here. She battled multiple serious knee injuries during her college career at UConn that cost her significant playing time and could have derailed her dreams entirely.

Instead, she kept working through the setbacks. Last year, she won a national championship with UConn and earned Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors after scoring 24 points in the title game.

Why This Inspires

Fudd's journey from the nation's top high school recruit to injury struggles to WNBA history maker shows what persistence looks like in real time. She was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, and Dallas knew exactly what they were getting: a player who fights through adversity.

Now averaging 13.2 points per game as a rookie, Fudd plays alongside stars Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale, giving the Wings a dangerous perimeter attack. She's already proven she belongs among the league's elite shooters, even as the newest professional in the room.

Every other rookie who competes in future 3-point contests will be chasing the standard Fudd just set. Some records are meant to be broken, but being first is forever.