Azzi Fudd Matched New York's Entire Third Quarter Output and the Champs Are Next

Alright, folks, can we talk about what just happened? The Dallas Wings are coming home absolutely FIRED UP after dropping a 91-76 win on the New York Liberty in Brooklyn, and trust me, you're gonna want to hear about rookie guard Azzi Fudd. This kid just went OFF, scoring a season-high 24 points. Her backcourt partner Paige Bueckers matched her with 24 too, while Arike Ogunbowale added 19. But here's the kicker: Fudd put up 17 of her points in the THIRD QUARTER alone. She literally matched New York's *entire output* for that period. Seriously, the champs better be watching.

Fudd is Rolling and the Wings Are Soaring

Let's get real, that kind of performance from a rookie, in just her seventh game, is insane. Jessica Shepard also dropped a sick stat line with 10 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists. Fudd herself said her goal was just to "slow down" and that her teammates were "setting great screens, giving me great passes." Reading the game was key, she said. Ogunbowale echoed the hype, saying Fudd's play "shows what she's capable of." She also reminded everyone Fudd's still a rookie and learning, but honestly, what she's doing right now is special. This team isn't just Fudd, though. Coach Jose Fernandez publicly challenged his squad to get tougher and less selfish, and man, have they responded! The Wings have won three of their past four games, with two of those on the road and all three by at least 10 points. They're sitting at a solid 4-3, and this squad is clearly turning a corner. They're playing with an edge now, and it's awesome to watch.

Champs Are Stumbling, and Dallas Could Pounce

Now, let's talk about the defending league champion Las Vegas Aces. They're coming into this matchup in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex after a 101-95 home loss to Los Angeles on Saturday. A'ja Wilson did her thing, dropping 24 points and grabbing 15 rebounds, and Chennedy Carter was a spark plug off the bench with 23 points. Na'Lyssa Smith added 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting with nine rebounds, while Chelsea Gray and Jewell Loyd had 12 and 10 points, respectively. But here's the problem: Vegas allowed Los Angeles to shoot a scorching 55.2 percent from the floor and drain 14 of 29 three-point attempts. Yikes. Coach Becky Hammon admitted it was a "disappointing night on the defensive end." She hopes cleaning up the offensive end will help the defense, but man, those numbers are rough for a championship team. On the bright side, Carter has been a beast off the bench, averaging 20 points in just 22.2 minutes per game. Hammon wants her to be that "spark plug," hitting teams with a second wave after they've dealt with the starters. The weirdest part? The Aces are 0-2 at home this season but have won all four of their away games. That loss to L.A. snapped a four-game winning streak. This Thursday's game is the first of three matchups between these teams this season. The Wings are hot, Azzi Fudd is playing out of her mind, and the Aces are coming off a defensive letdown. This is a HUGE early-season test for both squads. Can the Wings prove they're for real against the champs? Or will Vegas find their defensive intensity on the road? I'm telling you, you don't want to miss this one. Let's GO!

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