Rookie Azzi Fudd's 24-Point Clinic Just Blew Up New York, And The Champs Are Next

Alright, Emerald City faithful, listen up! The Dallas Wings are coming into Thursday's early season showdown against the defending champion Las Vegas Aces on absolute fire, and it's all thanks to some unbelievable early season play. They just rolled over the New York Liberty 91-76 on Sunday, and honestly, the performance by rookie guard Azzi Fudd was just plain electric. This isn't just another game, folks, this is a statement moment for a Wings squad that's clearly on the rise.

Dallas Is Heating Up

What a win that was against the Liberty! Fudd absolutely torched New York with a season-high 24 points, her backcourt running mate Paige Bueckers also dropped 24, and Arike Ogunbowale chipped in 19. Jessica Shepard was a beast in the paint, putting up 10 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists. But seriously, Fudd? She put up 17 of her points in the third quarter alone, matching the *entire* Liberty team's output for that period. That's just wild, right? You can feel the growth. Fudd herself said her goal was "just to slow down," adding that her "teammates were setting great screens, giving me great passes." Ogunbowale heaped praise on the rookie, saying it "just shows what [Fudd's] capable of." She reminded everyone it's "literally only game seven, and she's coming into her own." Coach Jose Fernandez challenged this team to be tougher and less selfish, and guess what? They've answered, winning three of their past four games, two of them on the road, and all by at least 10 points. This team is for real!

The Champs Are Stumbling

Now, let's talk about the competition. The Las Vegas Aces (4-2) are rolling into the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex after a brutal 101-95 home loss to Los Angeles on Saturday. A'ja Wilson did her thing with 24 points and 15 rebounds, and Chennedy Carter popped off the bench for 23 points. Na'Lyssa Smith added 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting and nine boards, while Chelsea Gray and Jewell Loyd put up 12 and 10 points respectively. But man, the defensive end was a mess. They allowed Los Angeles to shoot a shocking 55.2% from the floor and drain 14 of 29 three-pointers! Coach Becky Hammon didn't mince words, calling it a "disappointing night on the defensive end for us, plain and simple." Interestingly, the Aces are 0-2 at home this season but have snatched all four of their away games. That loss to the Sparks snapped a four-game winning streak. On the bright side for them, Carter has been a major boost, averaging 20 points in just 22.2 minutes off the bench. Hammon called her "our spark plug off the bench," loving her "hard-nosed aggression." This Thursday night clash is the first of three games between these two squads this season. The Wings are riding high with a rookie sensation, showing grit and serious improvement. The defending champion Aces are coming off a defensive nightmare at home, looking to reclaim their swagger on the road. This isn't just a game, it's an early season measuring stick, and I'm ready for the fireworks!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.