Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd Confirm Breakup Over a Year Ago Ahead of WNBA Season

A candid public reckoning on friendship and high-profile scrutiny

November 7, 2026 · 1:55 a.m. Eastern / 12:55 a.m. Central

WNBA superstars and Dallas Wings teammates Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd have publicly addressed their romantic relationship for the first time, confirming they broke up over a year ago and fiercely debunking toxic online narratives surrounding their professional careers.

The former University of Connecticut standouts—who made women’s basketball history by being selected back-to-back as the No. 1 overall picks in the WNBA Draft (Bueckers in 2025 and Fudd in 2026)—appeared together on a landmark episode of Fudd’s iHeart podcast, “Fudd Around and Find Out.”

Speaking with raw honesty, the two athletes revealed that their romantic relationship quietly concluded in early 2025. That timeline means the duo played through an entire collegiate championship run and a full subsequent WNBA campaign together while already separated, maintaining their athletic chemistry and deep friendship without public fanfare.

Shutting down online draft conspiracy theories

The primary motivation for going public, both players explained, was to extinguish persistent internet rumors and bad-faith speculation regarding the Dallas Wings’ front-office decisions.

Following the 2026 WNBA Draft lottery and selections, some social media commentators and fringe pundits suggested that Dallas selected Fudd No. 1 overall to appease Bueckers or preserve their relationship. Bueckers minced no words in shutting down those claims.

“We were not together before she got drafted, so all of those narratives can go to bed,” Bueckers said forcefully on the podcast. “She was not drafted because she was my girlfriend. She was drafted because she deserved it. Azzi is one of the best shooters and basketball players in the world, and taking away from her accomplishments because of who she dated is completely disrespectful.”

Navigating locker-room maturity and protecting loved ones

Fudd echoed Bueckers' sentiments, noting that navigating young adulthood under constant camera flashes and algorithm-driven scrutiny had taken an emotional toll, particularly on their families.

“We’re still best friends, we’re still teammates, and we’re still cool,” Fudd shared. “People online build up these dramatic storylines in their heads, and then they start sending hateful messages to our families, our siblings, and our friends. We just wanted to set the record straight ourselves, on our own terms, so everyone can move on and focus on basketball.”

The Wings organization praised both players for their professionalism, pointing to Dallas's resurgent fan attendance and postseason contention as proof of their exceptional on-court cohesion.

Timeline of Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd's basketball journey

2021: Azzi Fudd commits to UConn, joining close high school friend Paige Bueckers in Storrs, Connecticut.
Early 2025: The pair mutually decide to end their romantic relationship while continuing to play together for the Huskies.
April 2025: Paige Bueckers is drafted No. 1 overall by the Dallas Wings in the 2025 WNBA Draft.
April 2026: Azzi Fudd is drafted No. 1 overall by the Dallas Wings, reuniting the duo as professional backcourt teammates.
November 6, 2026: Bueckers and Fudd release the podcast episode confirming their 2025 breakup and rejecting draft nepotism theories.