The 2026 season, which started with so much promise for the new-look Dallas Wings, has turned sour since the All-Star break. After a 78-70 loss to the Golden State Valkyries on Monday, the Wings are now 2-7 since play resumed and have plummeted to eighth place at 20-16. Though Dallas remains four and a half games ahead of the expansion Portland Fire, and will almost certainly still make the playoffs for the first time since 2023, the hope that they could make a postseason run has faded, especially given that their first-round opponent if the season ended today would be the league-leading Minnesota Lynx.
Ahead of Thursday's showdown with Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever, let's take a closer look at what's gone wrong for the Wings in recent weeks. No. 1 overall pick Azzi Fudd notably came off the bench to begin her WNBA career, but was inserted into the starting lineup in late May and quickly became a key contributor on both sides of the ball. In 30 games, she's averaging 13.1 points, 1.8 assists and 1.7 steals, while shooting 39.7% from 3-point range.
Fudd, who is fourth on the Wings in scoring and leads them in both 3s and steals, has been sidelined since Aug. 5 due to a right knee injury and has missed their last five games. It's unclear if she'll play against the Fever, and though this current issue does not seem serious, there has been understandable concern given her previous knee problems. In high school, Fudd tore the ACL and MCL in her right knee, an injury that required multiple surgeries.
She then tore the ACL in her right knee again, as well as her meniscus, early in her junior season at UConn. Additionally, a minor right knee sprain kept her sidelined for multiple weeks during her senior season. Most Improved Player candidate Jessica Shepard, who leads the Wings in rebounding and is third in scoring and second in assists, also missed multiple games during this stretch due to an ankle injury.
She returned to action on Monday against the Valkyries, but did not look like herself and managed just four points on 1 of 4 shooting in 26 minutes. Shepard's return is a welcome sign for the Wings, but Fudd's continued absence is a bigger issue. She is their best 3-point shooter, and the spacing she provides for Paige Bueckers and Co. is crucial for the Wings' offense.
On the other side, the team misses her weakside defense and ability to jump into passing lanes. Including this stretch, the Wings are 19-11 with Fudd this season and 1-5 without her. Here's a look at how much better their offense is with Fudd on the floor.
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