DALLAS (AP) — Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd broke up more than a year ago, before the former UConn stars became teammates again with the Dallas Wings as back-to-back No. 1 overall picks in the WNBA draft.
Fudd was the first to say on the latest episode of her podcast released Friday that she and Bueckers were no longer dating. Bueckers followed up by saying it had been more than a year, her way of trying to end speculation that the Wings drafted Fudd to appease Bueckers.
“She was not drafted because she was my girlfriend. She was drafted because she deserved it,” Bueckers said in an appearance on “Fudd Around and Find Out.” “She’s an amazing human, amazing basketball player. And we’re still friends. We’re still cool.”
A Wings spokeswoman refused to let Fudd answer a question about her relationship with Bueckers during Fudd's introductory news conference last spring.
In her first meeting with reporters at the start of training camp about two weeks later, Bueckers addressed the topic in an opening statement, saying she and Fudd had always acted professionally on the court while declining to offer any details about their relationship.
Bueckers referred to Fudd as her girlfriend in an interview in July 2025, after they won a national championship together at UConn.
Bueckers was the 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year and is a two-time All-Star who helped lead the Wings to the playoffs last season. Dallas lost to eventual champion Golden State in the first round.
Fudd's rookie year was plagued by right knee trouble, and she was shut down after 30 games to undergo arthroscopic surgery. She became a full-time starter after coming off the bench the first six games and averaged 13.1 points.
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FILE - An injured Dallas Wings guard Azzi Fudd, right, talk to teammate and fellow guard Paige Bueckers before the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the Indiana Fever in Dallas, Aug. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Josh Norris scored twice, defenseman Owen Power had three assists and the Buffalo Sabres beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-2 on Friday night.
Norris ended a six-game goals drought to help Buffalo win for the fourth time in five games.
Jack Quinn, Rasmus Dahlin and Josh Doan also scored, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 24 saves.
Kent Johnson and Zach Werenski scored for Columbus, and Jet Greaves made 32 saves. The Blue Jackets have lost three straight road games.
Quinn opened the scoring at 6:50 of the first period with his ninth of the season, and Johnson tied it with 4:00 left in the period with his eighth. Norris made it 2-1 with 1:50 to go in the first with his first goal since Oct. 17.
Dahlin made it 3-1 with a one-timer 4:30 into the second period. Norris’ second goal at 9:46 made it 4-1. Doan made it 5-1 1:07 later.
Werenski's power-play goal with 1:39 left in the third made it 5-2.
Blue Jackets forward Sean Monahan left the second period because of a lower-body injury and did not return. He blocked Dahlin's shot during his last shift.
Blue Jackets: Host Florida on Tuesday night.
Sabres: Host Vegas on Sunday.
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Buffalo Sabres left wing Beck Malenstyn, right, clears the puck while pressured by Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Matthew Knies during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Buffalo Sabres right wing Jack Quinn, center, celebrates with defensemen Zach Metsa, left, and Owen Power after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Buffalo Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (1) deflects a shot during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Buffalo Sabres center Josh Norris, left, celebrates with defenseman Rasmus Dahlin after scoring during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Buffalo Sabres right wing Jack Quinn (22) reacts after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
