There are no days off for Azzi Fudd—not even the 2026 WNBA Draft.
“We woke up at 5:50 today so I could go work out before everything started,” Fudd tells Vogue from the hair and makeup chair just hours ahead of the draft at The Shed in New York City. “We went to bed at 1:00, so I was so tired,” she says.
Still, overwhelmed by the excitement, Fudd wanted a look to match the occasion. “For a moment like this, I’m super excited to really go all out and be extra and do everything I want,” she says. While she describes her day-to-day style as comfort-driven, she did a full 180 for the WNBA Draft.
Coach fashioned Fudd a silver sequined silk chiffon slip worn over a black lace-back corset, finished off with a floor-length black velvet bow. She accessorized with a pair of black sandals and a Coach Tabby bag. Fudd admits she was intimidated by having something made for her for the first time. “I’m not going to lie, I was a little scared at first,” she says. But watching the dress progress from moodboards to a finished product has been awe-inspiring. “I’m not artsy at all, so seeing this has been super, super cool.”
Fudd’s family and friends joined her in New York to watch her future unfold. “I have everyone I love around me,” she says. “My parents, brothers, grandparents, my family, and my best friends are here. Having them around makes everything incredible.”
She’s also getting support from people who know what she’s going through. In the lead-up to the draft, Fudd’s competitors from her time at UConn have become her fast friends. “I was a little nervous,” she says of seeing her fellow draftees off the court. But it turns out there was nothing to worry about. “The girls here are so fun. You can tell everyone here is just so excited for each other, and it’s super special.”
She’s also sought advice from former friends and teammates. (It also can’t hurt that her girlfriend, Paige Bueckers, was drafted to the Dallas Wings last year.) “All the advice I’ve gotten is enjoy the moment, soak it all in,” she says. “Make sure you’re happy and you’re good and you’re not letting anyone take away from how special this night’s going to be.” It seems like she’s taking it all to heart. “I’m on top of the world right now,” she declares.
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