Azzi Fudd had a very slow start to her rookie season with the Dallas Wings. After 16 games, the former UConn star is proving her worth with historic numbers. On Monday, the WNBA star reached a new milestone, breaking WNBA legend Alana Beard's 22-year-old record.

Italkhoops on X made a post stating, " FUN STAT: Azzi Fudd has surpassed two-time Defensive Player of the Year Alana Beard as the fastest guard in WNBA history to record 25+ steals and 15+ blocks."

While Fudd has been having an excellent season on the offensive end, she is making her mark on the defensive end. Fudd surpassed Hall of Famer Alana Beard as the fastest guard to record 25+ steals and 15+ blocks.

Beard had held the record since 2004 when she took 17 games to reach the mark. Fudd surpassed the WNBA legend in her 16th game during the Wings' overtime win over the Seattle Storm. After 16 games, Fudd has 26 steals and 18 blocks in total.

Fudd has achieved the feat despite a slower start to her rookie season. Beard, who was also a former two-time Defensive Player of the Year, had been a starter for the Washington Mystics since the start of her rookie season.

However, Fudd has started only 10 of the Wings' 16 games. She is quickly raising her stake as a big defensive asset for the Wings.

Azzi Fudd's growth in her rookie season

In the Wings' season opener, Fudd was not included in the starting lineup, an unusual decision by a team. She came off the bench and played 18 minutes in the game. Fudd had a forgettable night. She took only two shots in the game and contributed just three points.

She played the next five games coming off the bench. Fudd first played as a starter in May in a game against the Las Vegas Aces. Since then, she has averaged 15.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 49.2% from the field.

In Wings coach Jose Fernandez's system, Fudd didn't find it very difficult to adjust. Fernandez runs a European-style offense in Dallas, similar to UConn's coach Geno Auriemma, which Fudd played under for years.

She is now establishing herself as a legitimate two-way guard. In games, she is averaging 13.6 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.1 blocks per game. Fudd is leading Dallas in steals and blocks.

Do you think Fudd has the defensive caliber to win the Defensive Player of the Year award? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Nandjee Ranjan