DALLAS -- Azzi Fudd's introductory news conference Thursday in a Hyatt Regency meeting room overflowing with friends, family, media, a half-dozen of her new Wings teammates and a 7-foot gecko taught us a few things about the latest No. 1 pick from UConn.
Like the fact that she once hit a shot to beat her new coach in college. Or that her mom played in the WNBA. Or that she stars in a new commercial with the company repped by the aforementioned lizard.
We also learned she loves barbecue, wants to visit the Stockyards and would like to buy a cowboy hat to match the new black boots she wore Thursday.
But the first thing you might have wanted to know, as to whether she's still dating her new/old teammate, Paige Bueckers?
Don't ask.
I tried.
No sooner did yours truly pose the question as well as a follow-up about whether they'd sought the counsel of the WNBA's other couples than the Wings' moderator interceded.
"I understand why you have to ask that question," Pam Flenke said, "but we're going to respectfully decline from commenting on players' personal lives."
Before getting to the opportunity missed Thursday, as well as the unfortunate statement made in its place, let's get this straight: It's not as if I broke any news. The relationship went viral when Bueckers announced it last summer.
On TikTok, no less.
Now all of a sudden the subject is off-limits, which is not a little ironic, considering it just moved from TMZ material to mainstream news story.
As far as I can tell, this is the first time in any sport a player taken with the first pick of the draft could be in a relationship with a player already on the team and who just happens to be a former No. 1 pick as well. I mean, what are the odds? Even Fudd said she couldn't believe in the possibilities until after she got the news.
But the story isn't that the Wings were bad enough two years in a row to end up so fortunate. The news isn't even an old tale of two young teammates in love.
If that's still the case, of course.
The story is that, after doing their due diligence, with the wide, wide world to choose from and a cast of candidates including a terrific point guard just down the road at TCU, the Wings may have gone with the one player bound to have a bad day with your best player.
Let me try to put this in perspective: As a partner in a relationship of nearly 40 years, I think I can safely say it’s a good thing the lovely wife and I no longer work in the same building. Living in the same house is occasionally fraught with peril. If I were to throw a basketball to her some days, she might not throw it back.
Not when I was looking, anyway.
Maybe Bueckers and Fudd -- if they’re still an item -- are mature beyond their years. Maybe they can put aside any grievances for the good of the team.
Maybe they’ll never have a bad day.
But that is not the way to bet, which is why I asked if they’d discussed relationships with any of the WNBA players on record about theirs. Others have made it work. In 2018, the Chicago Sky’s Allie Quigley and Courtney Vandersloot got married. Three years later, they helped their team to a title. Diana Taurasi and Penny Taylor didn’t acknowledge their relationship until after they won three titles with the Mercury, at which point they married.
Curt Miller, the Wings’ GM, has had experience with couples. Back when he was in Connecticut, DeWanna Bonner and Alyssa Thomas started dating in 2020; got engaged three years ago; now play for Mercury. DiJonai Carrington and NaLyssa Smith—both played for Wings last year—acknowledged their relationship on social media before apparently splitting.
This much is clear: Miller’s not afraid of potential challenges couples roster even if won’t talk about it.
When I asked him after news conference whose idea no comment players organization, he would only say they would "never" comment athletes' personal lives. Which sounds good, right? But who's speaking whom? Hard say. While Flenke issued no comment, Fudd looked little well befuddled. Bueckers wasn't among teammates showed up Thursday support.
Before you say media should stay out athletes' personal lives, you should know we butt in all time. Vast majority stories draw few objections. As Dak Prescott Dirk Nowitzki any number Dallas superstars over years will tell you,we write about love lives male athletes too.Because your personal life can impact your professional life.