NEW YORK (AP) — Azzi Fudd has made history by being the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft, set to earn $500,000. The former UConn star shared her excitement, saying, “I can’t fully describe that feeling. It’s surreal.”
Fudd will reunite with Paige Bueckers, her former teammate, who was the top pick last year. They contributed to UConn achieving a record of seven number-one selections. Fudd praised Bueckers, stating, “She makes playing basketball easy.”
Alongside Fudd, UCLA players Lauren Betts and Gabriela Jaquez also shone, being drafted in the top five just days after clinching their first NCAA championship. Their teammate, Kiki Rice, went sixth to Toronto, as the team celebrated its first pick in the expansion draft.
UCLA broke a record previously held by UConn for the most first-round selections, with four UCLA players chosen. This surpassed the Huskies’ 2002 record.
Recent changes in the WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement have significantly increased rookie salaries. For instance, Fudd will earn nearly seven times what Bueckers made last season. Other top picks like Olivia Miles from TCU are also benefiting; she was selected second by Minnesota after deciding to use her extra year in college wisely.
“Taking a deep breath, I got emotional,” Miles expressed, relieved and excited about her new journey.
In total, 11 international players were drafted, enhancing the league’s global appeal. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert noted the league’s plan to host games overseas, reflecting its growth and increasing talent pool.
Fudd and her mother, Katie Smrcka-Duffy Fudd, became only the second mother-daughter duo to be drafted into the WNBA. Smrcka-Duffy Fudd was picked in 2001 but never played.
The excitement around the draft reveals a bright future for women’s basketball. It’s thrilling to see so much talent emerging, and fans are eager for what’s next in the season.
For more information on the WNBA, visit AP News.
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