Paige Bueckers After the Azzi Fudd Reveal: Teammates React, Unrivaled Return Ahead

Paige Bueckers remains one of the most-discussed names in women’s basketball a day after she and Dallas Wings teammate Azzi Fudd said on Fudd’s podcast that their romantic relationship ended more than a year ago. The follow-up story is about how the pair framed their working relationship, and what is next on Bueckers’ calendar: a return to the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league in January.

What did Bueckers and Fudd say?

“We are no longer together. I don’t know how else to say that,” Fudd said on Fudd Around and Find Out, according to USA Today. Bueckers added that “it’s been over a year” and said the split came before Dallas drafted Fudd No. 1 overall in 2026.

“She was not drafted because she was my girlfriend. She was drafted because she deserved it,” Bueckers said, per USA Today and Sporting News. “She’s an amazing human, amazing basketball player, and we’re still friends.”

How do they plan to handle being teammates?

Both players stressed professionalism. “We played an entire season together. We’re the utmost professional, we care about basketball,” Bueckers said, Sporting News reported.

She described the breakup in general terms. “Sometimes in life, there’s just seasons. And sometimes in life, two people are just at different points in their life,” Bueckers said. “We still support each other, we’re still going to be great friends, we’re still going to be great teammates.” She added that both will “eventually move on.”

USA Today recalled that when Fudd was introduced in Dallas last April, Wings public relations staff stepped in to decline a question about the relationship.

Why did they address it now?

Bueckers said the speculation had come with abuse aimed at them and their families. “We’ve seen a lot of negativity. We’ve seen a lot of hate. We’ve had stuff sent to us. We’ve had stuff sent to our family, our friends,” she said, according to USA Today. Fudd added: “Also, we don’t need messages on what the other person is doing.”

Sporting News reported that Bueckers also criticized fans who use the two of them to insult other players. “Why would you tear people down to lift us up?” she said. “That’s never been something we’ve stood for.”

What’s next for Paige Bueckers?

Unrivaled announced its 2027 rosters on Nov. 4, and Bueckers is returning to Breeze BC for her second season in the league. Her Breeze teammates are Kahleah Copper, Dominique Malonga, Kaitlyn Chen, DiJonai Carrington and Monique Billings, with Jarell Christian as head coach, according to the league.

“I’m excited to welcome Paige and Dom back for their second season with the Breeze. Their familiarity and chemistry will be extremely valuable to our success,” Christian said in the league’s announcement.

Key dates and details:

• Jan. 8, 2027: Unrivaled’s third season tips off, the league said.
• Jan. 24, 2027: Breeze is set to face Hive, led by rookie of the year Olivia Miles, at a Minneapolis tour stop, MPR News reported.
• MPR News noted that Bueckers, a Minnesota native, ranked fourth in points per game and second in assists per game in her first Unrivaled season.

Fudd was not listed on any of the eight 2027 Unrivaled rosters released by the league.

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Earlier coverage: Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd Say They Split Over a Year Ago (Nov 6)