Wings HC Jose Fernandez Reveals Stance on Azzi Fudd’s Starting Spot Amid Latest Injury Report
Via Imagn ©Via Imagn The 2026 regular season opener between the Dallas Wings and the Indiana Fever gave fans everything they hoped for. But despite Dallas escaping with a 107-104 win, the biggest talking point after the game surprisingly had nothing to do with who led the team to victory or who played best. As all eyes were on rookie sensation Azzi Fudd after she came off the bench in her WNBA debut.
This left many fans wondering if earning a starting role could now take a little longer than originally expected. Even after Fudd’s quiet debut, where she finished the game with just three points and one rebound in 18 minutes, Dallas Wings head coach Jose Fernandez made one thing very clear – he still fully believes in the rookie’s long-term future with the franchise. “I don’t think about it that way.
Is she capable of doing that? Yes, she is,” he said. “When it does happen, I think she’ll be ready.
” While Fudd’s performance became the fewest points ever scored by a No. 1 pick in a regular-season debut, Fernandez refused to add any more fuel to the fire. “The other thing, when she gets in, and she’s a shooter, I gotta get her more involved, get her some looks, but you got to give other teams credit too.
Other teams prepare for really good players,” the Wings coach added while admitting Dallas needs to do a better job of helping Azzi Fudd find quality scoring opportunities once she enters the game. That comment probably says everything fans need to know about how this team is approaching the development of their young star moving forward. And while many expected Fudd to instantly step into a starring role alongside her former UConn teammate Paige Bueckers, Fernandez also revealed why Dallas decided to take a different approach in the season opener.
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