Azzi Fudd has strong WNBA Draft prediction amid mock projections

The WNBA Draft could hold many surprises, and based on mock draft projections, the biggest question mark is who will be the first pick on Monday evening.

For weeks, it appeared that UConn star Azzi Fudd was the clear choice, and she’d reunite with her former college teammate, Paige Bueckers, as the top pick for the Dallas Wings. However, her NCAA Final Four performance left much to be desired and seemed to cast doubt on Fudd’s value as the No. 1 pick.

In the short time since that loss, mock projections suggest the Wings will opt for Spain center Awa Fam or UCLA center Lauren Betts. Both could make a lot of sense, although Fam would need time to develop, and Betts appears to be the last true center coming into the WNBA.

As of Sunday, Bleacher Report’s mock had Fam as the No. 1 pick. Several days ago, ESPN suggested that TCU point guard Olivia Miles would join the backcourt with Bueckers.

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However, the latest WNBA Draft prediction has Fudd going first overall ahead of the big event in New York City. As of this writing, the Kalshi prediction market suggests Fudd has an 86 percent chance of becoming the top pick. She’s followed by Fam at 14 percent, with Betts at six percent chances of being the No. 1 pick.

Of those players, Betts and Fudd hold the most experience and would be ready to contribute from the start. Betts is coming off her UCLA Bruins winning the championship against South Carolina, while Fudd and Bueckers played together for several seasons under Geno Auriemma at UConn.

That could indicate they’d already have strong chemistry on the court, which would really benefit a Dallas team that went 10-34, tying with the Chicago Sky for the league’s worst record.

Adding to the potential of them drafting Fudd is that they parted ways with guard DiJonai Carrington. On Sunday, news broke that she joined the Chicago Sky, which would seem to open a spot for Fudd.

There is speculation that the Wings have interest in Washington Mystics center Shakira Austin, which could give them further incentive to draft the UConn star first overall, as they already have another center in mind.

However, their pick has the potential to really shake things up, as taking Betts or Fam first would leave Fudd available for the second or third pick. That would mean she’d join either the Minnesota Lynx or Seattle Storm, two teams that participated in last year’s WNBA Playoffs.

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