Dallas Wings' Azzi Fudd Not Runaway Favorite for WNBA Rookie of the Year
Very few were surprised when UConn guard Azzi Fudd with the top pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft earlier this week.
Fudd, a former NCAA champion, NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player, and first-team All-American, was widely considered to be among the two best players in the draft class alongside TCU point guard Olivia Miles, who went No. 2 overall to the Minnesota Lynx.
Add in the fact that Fudd is dating reigning Wings star and Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers, and it almost felt like there was no way she wouldn't end up in Dallas.
Because top picks are typically favored to win Rookie of the Year awards in their respective sports, many assumed that Fudd would be heavily favored as such heading into 2026.
However, early returns on WNBA Rookie of the Year voting shows that the 3-year-old shooting guard may not exactly be the shoo-in many expected her to be.
According to DraftKings sportsbook, Fudd is the current favorite with +200 odds, but Miles is right on her heels with +300 odds and No. 3 overall pick Awa Fam of the Seattle Storm is a close third with +350 odds.
It wouldn't be surprising to see Miles overtake Fudd early in the season given the Lynx will be without MVP candidate Napheesa Collier for some time during that stretch.
Miles will likely play a big role for Minnesota with Collier out, and she excels at driving offense. Some would argue dropping her in on the best regular-season team in the WNBA last year isn't fair.
Fam was believed to be in the No. 1 pick conversation all the way up to the draft.
The 6-foot-4 center was dominant playing in Spain last season, and she put forth several impressive performances for the Spanish National Team U19 World Cup as well. Given her skillset and physically intimidating presence, it wouldn't be surprising if Fam stayed at the forefront of the ROTY year race for most of the season.
Rookie of the Year odds, per DraftKings:
- Azzi Fudd, drafted No. 1 overall to the Dallas Wings, +200
- Olivia Miles, drafted No. 2 overall to the Minnesota Lynx, +300
- Awa Fam, drafted No. 3 overall to the Seattle Storm, +350
- Lauren Betts, drafted No. 4 overall to the Washington Mystics, +600
- Flau'jae Johnson, drafted No. 8 overall to the Golden State Valkyries and traded to the Storm, +1000
- Kiki Rice, drafted No. 6 overall to the Toronto Tempo, +1800
- Gabriela Jaquez, drafted No. 5 overall to the Chicago Sky, +3000
- Georgia Amoore, drafted No. 6 overall in 2025 by the Mystics, +3500
- Isobel Borlase, drafted 20th overall in 2024 by the Atlanta Dream, +5000
- Angela Dugalic, drafted No. 9 overall to the Mystics, +7000
2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
This story was originally published April 16, 2026 at 11:00 AM.