ARLINGTON, Texas — Dallas Wings guard Azzi Fudd will have season-ending surgery on her right knee. This decision follows the absence of this year’s No. 1 overall WNBA draft pick for the past five games.

The team announced that Fudd will undergo arthroscopic surgery next week in Connecticut. Fudd, who previously starred for UConn, became the second consecutive No. 1 overall pick chosen by Dallas after Paige Bueckers, the 2022 Rookie of the Year.

Fudd initially came off the bench as a rookie for her first six games. In her sixth appearance, she scored 24 points, securing her position as a full-time starter. Her best performance this season was a 26-point game in a victory over Seattle in June.

Fudd has averaged 13.1 points across 30 games this season. Despite participating in warmups before a home game against Golden State on August 7, she was sidelined “out of an abundance of caution” due to continuous knee soreness.

Bueckers and Fudd achieved the 2025 national championship together at UConn. Later, Bueckers joined the Wings, who have maintained a record of 3-8 following a six-game winning streak. This streak was the franchise’s longest since relocating to Texas a decade ago.

The Dallas Wings are optimistic about their playoff chances, aiming for their first appearance since 2023. They will face off against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever at the Dallas Mavericks’ venue on Thursday night.