The No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, Dallas Wings’ Azzi Fudd, began experiencing soreness in her knee during pre-game warmups ahead of the match against the Golden State Valkyries on August 7.

The injury has led to her missing five consecutive games since then, with her last appearance being against the Washington Mystics on August 5.

Now, according to an X post shared by ESPN, the Wings have announced that Fudd will miss the rest of the season as she undergoes surgery to address the issue and begin her recovery journey.

“Breaking: Azzi Fudd will miss the remainder of the regular season and will undergo an arthroscopic procedure to address ongoing right knee soreness, the Dallas Wings announced,” ESPN revealed via X on August 19.

Per WNBA Roundtable, Fudd is set to undergo the surgical procedure some time next week. Unfortunately, this is not the first time that the rookie has faced injury concerns related to her knee. 

She injured the same knee twice during her college and high school days. In 2019, she suffered from an ACL and MCL tear, while in 2023, she had to deal with another ACL and meniscus injury in her right knee. 

According to a report by The Sporting News, those injuries, along with ligament tears, sprains, and soreness led to her missing 14 weeks total.

This recent setback is further adding to those concerns, especially since the rehab following her arthroscopic procedure is expected to keep her off the courts for the entire season.

Fudd proved herself worthy of being part of the Wings’ starting lineup after her first six games, breaking out during their matchup against the Las Vegas Aces on May 28, scoring 24 points on 60% shooting.

Dallas has depended quite a bit on the rookie, who has appeared in 30 games since then. But now, with Fudd sidelined for the season, what is in store for the Dallas Wings?

What does Fudd’s injury mean for the Dallas Wings?

According to the August 19 report by WNBA Roundtable, although Fudd’s departure will definitely hurt the Wings, it is not enough to shatter their playoff chances. 

Per ESPN, the Dallas Wings hold a 20-16 record and have the eighth playoff seed. Currently, they have a 4.5-game cushion over the Portland Fire, who are in the 9th spot.

So, unless the Wings are dominated completely across their eight remaining games, they should still be able to make playoffs. 

In the last five games that Fudd missed after August 7, Dallas struggled without her shooting and her reliable defense.

But that is a hurdle the team will have to overcome, especially since their next game is on August 20, against the Indiana Fever, known for their aggressive offense.

Do you think the Dallas Wings will make playoffs without Azzi Fudd this season? Let us know in the comments.

Written by

Arundhoti Palit

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit