Rookie Azzi Fudd Wins WNBA 3-Point Contest in Historic First

Azzi Fudd proved that setbacks can sharpen your strengths in the most unexpected ways.

The Dallas Wings rookie made history Friday night at the WNBA All-Star weekend in Chicago, becoming the first rookie ever to win the league's 3-point contest. Fudd scored 30 points in the first round and took 27 shots in the finals, missing just six attempts.

The 22-year-old guard admitted she felt the pressure. "I was really nervous. I was excited," Fudd said after accepting the trophy.

But once she started shooting, muscle memory kicked in. "It's what I've been doing since I was young," she explained.

Dallas selected Fudd with the first overall pick in April's draft despite injuries that disrupted her college career at UConn. The Wings saw something special in her shooting ability, and that gamble paid off spectacularly.

Why This Inspires

Here's where the story gets even better. Fudd credits those difficult injury periods with actually improving her shot.

During rehab, she spent countless hours doing stationary shooting drills from a chair. "That was a lot of chair shooting, a lot of stationary shots," she said. "So you get really good at shooting off of a rack and being stationary and robotic."

Those repetitive movements became the foundation for Friday's championship performance. What looked like lost time became valuable practice that built the rhythm and form she needed to excel under pressure.

Fudd has made 53 three-pointers during her rookie season, averaging just over two attempts per game from beyond the arc. Her efficiency and accuracy caught the attention of All-Star selectors, who gave her the platform to showcase her talent.

The contest also featured Portland Fire star Bridget Carleton, who scored 19 points but couldn't match Fudd's precision. The rookie's 30-point first round score came within 10 points of the maximum possible total.

Friday's event was part of a revamped All-Star weekend that included the debut of the Shooting Stars competition, which replaced the traditional skills challenge. The new format featured four teams with three players each: a WNBA legend, a current star, and a rising young talent.

Sometimes the hardest roads lead to the sweetest victories.