Dallas Wings guards Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd publicly confirmed on Friday, November 6, 2026, that they are no longer in a romantic relationship. Speaking together on Fudd's iHeart Women's Sports podcast, Fudd Around and Find Out, the former University of Connecticut teammates revealed that their separation actually occurred more than a year ago, well before they reunited as professional basketball players in Dallas.

The joint announcement puts an end to months of external speculation surrounding the backcourt duo, who spent four seasons together at UConn from 2021 to 2025 before both entering the WNBA as top draft selections. According to 95.7 WDAE, the pair chose to address their status in their own words to clarify the timeline of their split, affirm their ongoing friendship, and push back against online harassment directed at their inner circles.

Setting the Record Straight on the 2026 WNBA Draft

During the podcast episode, Fudd introduced the topic directly by telling listeners that she and Bueckers had an update to share regarding their personal lives, stating simply that they were no longer together.

While some initial media headlines framed the news as a recent split or stated broadly that the breakup happened right before the WNBA season, detailed accounts from People and Yahoo Entertainment note that Bueckers explicitly dated the breakup to over a year prior.

Bueckers emphasized that the timeline was crucial to shutting down rumors regarding the 2026 WNBA Draft, when the Dallas Wings selected Fudd with the No. 1 overall pick—one year after taking Bueckers first overall in 2025. When Fudd was drafted by Dallas, social media chatter suggested the franchise made the move to pair Bueckers with her romantic partner.

"We were not together before she got drafted, so all those narratives can go to bed," Bueckers said during the broadcast, as quoted by USA Today For The Win. "She was not drafted because she was my girlfriend. She was drafted because she deserved it, and she's an amazing human.

Amazing basketball player, and we're still friends; we're still cool. We broke up over a year ago, so we played an entire season together."

A Strong Condemnation of Online Negativity

Beyond clarifying their draft-day status, Bueckers used the platform to confront hostility from certain corners of their fanbase. Both athletes noted that they had witnessed toxic commentary online, including hostile messages sent directly to their family members, friends, and fellow Dallas Wings players.

"We don't stand for hate of any kind, like putting people down to lift us up, individually, together," Bueckers stated. "Any negative nature of that kind, like we don't associate with that, we don't condone that. If you're using our names and our image to spread that, like, that's not who we are, and that's not what we're about."

She questioned why anyone claiming to support them would target the people closest to them, adding that she disliked having to speak on personal matters publicly but felt compelled to control the narrative after seeing wild rumors circulate.

To demonstrate their solidarity, the two guards debuted a custom sign-off gesture created with the help of their teammates: forming a broken heart with their hands followed by a fist bump, explaining that while they are no longer a couple, they remain close friends.

From Storrs to Dallas: A Shared Basketball History

The public fascination with Bueckers and Fudd stems from one of the most high-profile collegiate partnerships in modern women's basketball. According to CT Insider, the two guards played four seasons under head coach Geno Auriemma at UConn. In the Apple TV docuseries UConn Huskies: The Dynasty, Bueckers confirmed that their romantic relationship began while they were college teammates and was known inside the Huskies locker room, describing an initial spark that went beyond a standard friendship.

In 2025, the duo led UConn to an NCAA Tournament championship victory over South Carolina, ending a nine-year title drought for the program.

Later that year, Bueckers publicly referred to Fudd as her girlfriend during an appearance on the TikTok series WAG Talk, and subsequentially won WNBA Rookie of the Year honors with Dallas.

When Fudd arrived in Dallas for the 2026 campaign, the pair seamlessly transitioned into professional co-workers. According to Bleacher Report, the Wings won a franchise-record 27 regular-season games in 2026 and reached the postseason for the first time in three years, ultimately falling in the opening round to the eventual-champion Golden State Valkyries.

"Me and Azzi have always been the utmost professional," Bueckers said of their on-court dynamic. "We've always conducted ourselves as such, and we've never let anything that happens off the court carry onto the court."

Frequently Asked Questions

How did Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd manage their professional relationship during the 2026 WNBA season?

Because their breakup occurred prior to the 2026 WNBA Draft, Bueckers and Fudd entered the 2026 season already accustomed to being friends and former partners. Bueckers credited their years of shared experience at UConn for their ability to compartmentalize personal matters, allowing them to lead the Dallas Wings to a 27-win season and a playoff berth.

Why did fans speculate about the Dallas Wings drafting Azzi Fudd?

Because the couple had not publicly announced their split after going public in 2025, many external observers assumed they were still dating when Dallas held the No. 1 pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft. Bueckers specifically shared the breakup timeline to refute claims that nepotism or personal relationships influenced Fudd's selection.

Will Paige Bueckers or Azzi Fudd share more details about why they broke up?

No. During the podcast broadcast, Fudd stated that while they understand fans remain curious and likely have additional questions, the two have addressed everything they intend to share publicly and will keep the remainder of their personal history private.

Sources