Azzi Fudd — the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft out of UConn — scored the first basket of her professional career in preseason against the Indiana Fever, driving to the free-throw line and pulling up over Caitlin Clark's defense for a mid-range jumper with nine minutes left in the first quarter of Dallas's 95-80 win. Fudd finished with four points and a rebound in 16 minutes of her professional debut alongside former UConn teammate Paige Bueckers — who dominated with 20 points and four first-half threes — while generating significant buzz with candid postgame comments about WNBA officiating after picking up three personal fouls in the first half. We break down Fudd's debut moment, what the first basket revealed about her professional readiness, and what the Wings-Fever matchup tells us about the most anticipated regular-season rivalry in the 2026 WNBA season.

2026 WNBA season begins May 8. Preseason tip-off: April 25 (Indiana Fever vs. New York Liberty). Total teams: 14. Salary cap: $7 million (up from $1.5 million). Largest contract: A'ja Wilson, 3 years, $5 million, Las Vegas Aces.

 The 2026 WNBA season tips off May 8 as the most transformed version of the league in its 30-year history — a new $7 million salary cap, two expansion franchises (Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo), A'ja Wilson on a $5 million supermax deal, and a historic draft class led by Azzi Fudd (No. 1, Dallas), Olivia Miles (No. 2, Minnesota), and Awa Fam Thiam (No. 3, Seattle). The Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty enter as co-favorites, but the Atlanta Dream's acquisition of Angel Reese, the Indiana Fever's healthy Caitlin Clark-Kelsey Mitchell backcourt, and the Minnesota Lynx's addition of Miles alongside Napheesa Collier have created the deepest competitive field in league history. We break down every contender, every major draft pick, and the bold predictions for the season ahead.