Azzi Fudd's knee issue is keeping her off the court a little longer than Dallas Wings fans hoped. The rookie guard missed her fourth straight game on Friday night due to right knee soreness as Dallas faced Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Coach Jose Fernandez announced Fudd will miss at least another week, targeting her return for the home game vs. Indiana on August 20.

Underdog WNBA shared the update on X, reporting: "Fernandez: Azzi Fudd (knee) expected to miss at least around 1 more week, via Christan Braswell of Off The Record.

Braswell later clarified why the timeline is still a full week away. He noted that Dallas' next home game isn't until next Thursday and that Fudd's status for Monday's game hasn't been decided yet.

Fudd was injured on August 8 before Dallas faced the Golden State Valkyries. She went through her full pregame warmups, but right knee soreness popped up right before tip-off. The medical team decided to sit her out as a precaution.

Before the injury,  Fudd had been remarkably durable in her debut season. The No. 1 overall pick played in 30 of Dallas's first 34 games and quickly became a core piece of the offense.

She has been averaging 13.1 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.7 steals per game while shooting 45.6% from the field and 39.7% from three-point range.

To make matters worse, Dallas was also without Aziaha James (leg) and Jessica Shepard (ankle) on Friday.

Fans became emotional as the timeline stretched out

Wings fans have been understandably emotional after the recent update regarding Fudd's return.

"This gotta be the worst news ever," one fan wrote on X.

The initial injury looked minor. However, four missed games and a full extra week later, that caution has clearly worn on the fanbase.

"Life's never been this miserable, I swear," added another follower.

Fudd's absence is more than a rotation inconvenience for Dallas. The Wings are just 1-3 in the four games Fudd has missed this season, including Friday's 98-87 loss to Indiana.

And they have struggled badly to replace her shooting and perimeter defense.

That's why one fan wrote, "The game doesn’t feel the same without Azzi. We miss her threes, steals, blocks, and that defensive energy that changes games. But her health comes first. Take all the time you need, rookie. We’ll be here when you’re ready."

Despite the temporary drop in the standings to 20-15 (holding the No. 7 seed), most fans agree with the team's cautious approach.

"I think this timetable would be sooner if they had to make a run for the playoffs , but it makes the most sense for her to not get more injured in games they don’t absolutely need to make the playoffs to even have a chance in 1st round," wrote one fan.

They want a fully healthy Fudd for the playoffs rather than a rushed comeback that risks further injury.

As another fan put it, "Her health is most important."

This worry from the fanbase also comes from Fudd’s tough injury history.

Back in 2019 at a USA Basketball event, she tore her ACL and MCL, requiring two surgeries. Later at UConn, knee issues cost her 22 games during the 2022-23 season. A second ACL/meniscus tear in November 2023 ended her junior year early.

With that history, any knee soreness naturally makes fans hold their breath. Do you think the Dallas Wings are right to be cautious in their approach with Azzi Fudd? Let us know in the comments.

Written by

Md Saife Fida

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit