Azzi Fudd of the Dallas Wings etched her name into WNBA history on Friday by winning the All-Star 3-point shooting contest, becoming the first rookie ever to claim the title. The No. 1 overall draft pick delivered a dominant performance in the final round with 30 points, continuing a trend that saw her advance through earlier rounds with 24 points in the opening competition. Fudd faced Portland Fire forward Bridget Carleton in the championship matchup, with Carleton having earned her spot with 29 points in the first round. Carleton stumbled early in the final, missing her first three attempts, and could not recover, finishing with 19 points. Fudd demonstrated poise throughout the contest, making 20 of her 26 shot attempts in the final round and beginning her performance by making every shot from her first rack.
Before Fudd’s achievement, only three other rookies had competed in the event since its inception in 2006, with Rhyne Howard being the only other rookie to reach the final round, which occurred in 2022. Marina Mabrey, considered one of the favorites entering the competition, was eliminated in the first round with just 18 points. Fudd’s performance tied the score achieved by Sabrina Ionescu in the previous year, though Ionescu’s 37-point performance in 2023 remains the WNBA and NBA All-Star record.
Following her victory, Fudd publicly challenged Stephen Curry to a rematch, referencing a high school shooting contest she competed in at his basketball camp when she was 15 years old. Curry won that initial matchup 20-16, but Fudd noted that she defeated both Curry and his brother Seth in a competition last year at the Curry Camp in China. The former UConn standout was supported courtside by teammates and friends, including Paige Bueckers, who celebrated her historic win.
On the same day, the inaugural WNBA All-Star Shooting Stars competition took place, featuring four teams composed of retired WNBA legends, current WNBA players, and top high school prospects. Team Washington claimed victory in the new event, with high school player Jezelle Banks hitting the decisive shots in the final round to secure a 31-point victory over Team Seattle. The Washington roster featured WNBA legend Elena Delle Donne and Mystics center Shakira Austin alongside Banks.
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