CHICAGO — Azzi Fudd walked into Wintrust Enviornment on Friday night time as the one first-year participant in a six-player subject and walked out with one thing the 12 earlier editions of the WNBA 3-Level Contest had by no means produced. She turned the primary rookie champion and the primary former UConn participant to win the competitors.
Fudd, the primary general decide within the 2026 WNBA Draft, scored 30 factors within the State Farm championship. Bridget Carleton, who led the primary spherical with 27, wanted all 30 to pressure a playoff and completed at 19. Friday’s prime scorers had been Rhyne Howard (20), Janelle Salaün (19), Marina Mabrey (18), and Natisha Hiedeman (17).
No rookie had ever scored 30 in a spherical. Howard’s outdated mark was 24 in 2022. Fudd matched 24 after which surpassed it. Solely two different first-year gamers had been invited: Kelsey Mitchell with 16 in 2018, and Sonia Citron with 19 final summer season.
A Stroke Her Dad and mom Rebuilt
Fudd credited her mother and father for serving to her to remain disciplined along with her taking pictures mechanics all through her basketball profession, emphasizing a constant basis and a spotlight to element.
„It is actually all credit score to them—the effort and time they put into serving to me keep disciplined and construct a very good basis with my shot,“ Fudd stated. „With out them instilling that repetition and a spotlight to element, it would not be the identical.“
That basis gained nationwide publicity at 15, when she was one of many first two women invited to Stephen Curry’s camp.
„I used to be actually nervous, but in addition excited as a result of it was a lot enjoyable to be at that camp and to be one of many first two women there,“ Fudd stated. „Taking pictures in opposition to the boys, it is all the time just a little further one thing once you get to beat the boys.“
Eight years later, holding a trophy, she went on the lookout for a sequel.
„Steph, if you happen to’re listening, I have been asking for a rematch since highschool, so possibly it is time to determine a time and place,“ Fudd stated.
Azzi Fudd scored 30 to start the ultimate spherical. pic.twitter.com/SHuVpAUNTg
— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) July 25, 2026
Accidents Made It Automated
The mechanics that survived owe a lot to the years Fudd was motionless. Her UConn profession was repeatedly interrupted by accidents, and her taking pictures in between was largely from a chair.
„Actually, I really feel prefer it goes again to getting back from accidents,“ Fudd stated. „It was numerous chair taking pictures, numerous stationary photographs, so that you get actually good at taking pictures off a rack and being stationary and robotic and having your shot down pat.“
Which is to say a rack format asks her for the one factor she has repeated greater than the rest.
„It truly is muscle reminiscence. It is enjoyable as a result of—I do not need to sound cocky and say it is easy for me—however the set shot, taking the ball from the rack and taking pictures, it is actually muscle reminiscence,“ Fudd stated. „It is what I have been doing since I used to be younger, so I get to return right here and do what I do every single day.“
She additionally entered this one upright. Previous taking pictures competitions got here with a strolling boot hooked up.
„It feels nice. It was quite a bit lighter with out the boot,“ Fudd stated.
Contained in the Remaining Spherical
Fudd drew the primary slot within the championship spherical, which she would have picked given the selection.
„You get your nerves out of the way in which. My palms had been all sweaty, after which you do not have to consider it,“ Fudd stated. „Within the first spherical, I needed to watch the primary two individuals go and take into consideration my shot and surprise, ‚Am I going to overlook it? Am I going to make it?‘ However when you get it carried out, there’s nothing you are able to do.“
She emptied the left-corner rack with no miss and stopped maintaining observe after that.
„Once I’m taking pictures, I am simply occupied with ensuring my ft are set, my follow-through is similar, and all the pieces feels good,“ Fudd stated. „While you’re locked in, you are simply considering, ‚Identical factor, identical factor,‘ not essentially about what’s taking place. I used to be simply locked in, within the zone—subsequent ball, subsequent ball.“
Six photographs missed throughout each rounds, and time left on the clock in every. Fudd thought the six was too many.
„You stated I solely missed six photographs? That appears like quite a bit. I really feel like I ought to’ve made extra,“ Fudd stated.
What the Evening Paid
The trophy included $70,000, comprising $30,000 in league pay (with $10,000 for entry and $20,000 for profitable), below the brand new collective bargaining settlement. The WNBPA contributed the remaining $40,000 from a fund supported by Aflac.
Union prize cash for each Friday occasions elevated to $170,000 from $115,000 final summer season, marking the primary time some funds go to shooters who do not win. Second place acquired a complete of $40,000, with third incomes $25,000. Beginning in 2024, the WNBPA started including to purses whereas striving for the NBA’s $60,000 winner’s share. This hole was broader below earlier agreements, when a WNBA contest winner acquired solely $2,575.
Taking pictures Stars, a brand new occasion constructed round three-person groups of a present participant, a retired nice, and a Nike EYBL prospect, accounted for the remaining $85,000. Entrance Workplace Sports activities reported this week that the union and Aflac had but to choose a components for dividing it, with gamers in line for roughly $7,500 apiece and $15,000 extra for the profitable facet. Elena Delle Donne, Shakira Austin, and GG Banks took that one for Washington.
Fudd’s plans for her share are modest.
„First I am going to put it aside, after which possibly on the finish of the season take a trip,“ Fudd stated. „I really feel like my household and I want a trip.“
Staff Washington is your 2026 @Kia Taking pictures Stars champions ‼️pic.twitter.com/etU8Dn0sHx
— NBA (@NBA) July 25, 2026
Quigley’s 4
Allie Quigley gained this occasion 4 occasions, a complete no one in both league has matched. Fudd stated she had by no means stopped to contemplate it.
„I by no means considered that, however possibly. That will be a reasonably cool file to interrupt,“ Fudd stated. „It is spectacular that she’s gained 4 occasions.“
No one from UConn is understood to have gained it earlier than her, both, which caught her off guard.
„Wow. Once more, positively honored. That is loopy. I do not know. I am speechless,“ Fudd stated.
By way of 26 video games, Fudd is scoring 13.2 factors an evening on 38.7% taking pictures from behind the arc, with 53 3-pointers made, and Dallas sits at 18-9 on the break. A contest constructed on stationary repetition suited a shooter who has carried out little else since childhood; the model with defenders in it resumes Wednesday in opposition to the Atlanta Dream.
