Azzi Fudd’s Historic Win in the WNBA 3-Point Shooting Contest

Azzi Fudd, the No. 1 overall draft pick by the Dallas Wings, has made history by becoming the first rookie to win the WNBA All-Star 3-point shooting contest. The former UConn standout took home the 2026 State Farm WNBA 3-point trophy with a stunning 30-point performance in the final round of the competition, held on Friday.

Fudd’s win marked a significant milestone in her young career, as she is just the fourth rookie to compete in this event since its inception in 2006. Her impressive performance has left many in awe, and she has already challenged NBA star Stephen Curry to a rematch, citing their previous encounter at his basketball camp in 2018.

The competition was fierce, with Fudd facing off against Portland Fire forward Bridget Carleton in the title round. Carleton, who had punched her ticket with 29 points in the first round, put up a valiant effort but ultimately fell short, finishing with 19 points. Marina ‘Money’ Mabrey, one of the favorites to win it all, was eliminated in the first round with just 18 points.

Fudd’s path to victory was not without its challenges. In the first round, she faced stiff competition from several other talented players, including Rhyne Howard, who was also a participant in the competition. However, Fudd remained focused and composed, ultimately emerging victorious with 24 points. Her performance in the final round was nothing short of spectacular, as she made every single shot from the first rack and went on to make 20 of her 26 shot attempts.

When asked about her historic win, Fudd was gracious and humbled, saying, ‘It’s incredible. First of all, just an honor to be invited to do it and participate against the other best shooters in the league. It’s an honor to win as well.’ Her teammates and coaches from UConn and Dallas, including Paige Bueckers, were on hand to witness the historic moment and celebrated her win by pouring water on her. While she playfully complained about her hair, Fudd said it meant ‘everything’ to have her friends and family there.

Fudd’s win is a testament to her hard work and dedication to the sport. As she herself noted, ‘Just focusing. This is what you do every single day as a basketball player.’ Her father, Tim Fudd, who was in attendance, was overjoyed by his daughter’s achievement, saying, ‘I got nervous. First time ever. I usually trust the work… It’s amazing. It’s all amazing. This is surreal, but this is her element so I’m happy to see it.’

While Fudd’s win is certainly a highlight of the WNBA All-Star weekend, it’s worth noting that her achievement is not without precedent. Last year, Sabrina Ionescu also won the title with 30 points, and her 37-point performance in 2023 remains the WNBA and NBA All-Star record.

As for Curry, Fudd’s public challenge to a rematch has sparked a lot of interest and attention. In 2018, at the age of 15, Fudd became one of the first female campers ever to be invited to Curry’s SC30 Select Camp. After winning the camp’s 3-point contest, she earned a chance to go head-to-head against Curry himself. Although Curry ended up winning their battle 20-16, Fudd is ready to take his crown, saying, ‘Really nervous but also exciting because it was so much fun to be at that camp, to be one of the first two girls there… And then, shooting against boys, it is always a little extra something when you win against boys. So it was a lot of fun. Shooting against Steph was super cool.’

It’s clear that Fudd is not one to back down from a challenge, and her historic win in the WNBA 3-point shooting contest has cemented her place as one of the top young players in the league.