Chiney Ogwumike says quiet part out loud about Wings’ Azzi Fudd not starting

With the Dallas Wings taking on the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday, fans have been wondering when the team will start rookie star Azzi Fudd. After Fudd didn’t start for the Wings in the 107-104 win over the Indiana Fever last Saturday, there has been a ton of discourse, with analyst Chiney Ogwumike joining the discussion.

Speaking on her show for ESPN titled “Chiney Today,” she would tackle the debate, saying that while she understands head coach Jose Fernandez going with a veteran in Odysset Sims in the starting lineup, it’s different with the No. 1 pick in Fudd.

“Azzi Fudd not starting as the number one pick, this is something. This truly is something. Now I don’t want to knock Odyssey Sims….She has been a bucket ever since high school,” Ogwumike said regarding the decision of the team not starting Fudd in the first game of the regular season, via Azzi Fudd report.

“I can understand the rationale of putting people who understand what that moment is, but you have the number one pick, and it’s back-to-back number one picks, and the last thing that you want is for someone to not feel fully confident in belonging. Azzi is the best shooter that we’ve seen in a long time. She’s a pure shooter,” Ogwumike continued.

Chiney Ogwumike on Azzi not starting in the Wings game against the Fever pic.twitter.com/4OrOtQUnDL

— Azzi Fudd Report (@AzziReport) May 12, 2026

Chiney Ogwumike worries about Wings’ Azzi Fudd and her confidence

In Fudd’s first regular-season game for the Wings, she would record 18 minutes off the bench, scoring three points on one of two from three-point range to go along with a rebound. Ogwumike says the last thing Dallas wants to do is ruin the confidence of Fudd.

“You don’t want to like, create this, this loss of confidence for your number one pick because she’s getting limited minutes, 17 minutes. She only shot the ball twice. That, to me, should never happen, especially when you’re the number one pick. You should have the opportunity to be able to sort of control your own destiny. And we’ll see,” Ogwumike said.

It remains to be seen when Dallas ends up starting Fudd, with Tuesday against the Dream being the next opportunity.

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