The Azzi Audit: Fudd’s Third-Quarter Flamethrower Spoils Ionescu’s Return in Brooklyn
The Azzi Audit: Fudd’s Third-Quarter Flamethrower Spoils Ionescu’s Return in Brooklyn
BROOKLYN, NY — There is a mathematical rule in basketball that states you cannot be in two places at once. Apparently, nobody explained this to the Dallas Wings’ backcourt.
In a highly anticipated Sunday matinee at a sold-out Barclays Center, the New York Liberty welcomed back superstar Sabrina Ionescu from a foot injury. It was supposed to be a celebration. It was supposed to be a statement. Instead, rookie Azzi Fudd looked at the script, tore it to shreds, and proceeded to stage a third-quarter hostile takeover, lifting the Wings to a commanding 91-76 victory.
Anatomy of a Meltdown (From Beyond the Arc)
If you stepped away to grab a snack at halftime with New York clinging to a 44-43 lead, you missed the rookie putting on a historic clinic. The No. 1 overall pick in April’s draft decided the third quarter belonged to her, exploding for 17 of her career-high 24 points in those 10 minutes alone.
After missing her first triple of the half, Fudd went a ridiculous 5-for-5 from deep over the rest of the quarter—including a banked-in circus shot that gave Dallas a 66-53 cushion.
The Rookie Record Book Update:
Fudd's 17 points in the third tied for the second-most by a rookie in a single quarter in WNBA history (since 2006).
Her 6 total three-pointers set a new Wings franchise record for a rookie.
By the time the smoke cleared, Fudd had personally matched the entire New York Liberty roster's scoring output in the third quarter (17 points).
The Three-Headed Guard Monster
While Fudd was providing the ignition, Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale were providing the absolute certainty. Whenever New York tried to formulate a fourth-quarter response, Bueckers or Ogunbowale simply extinguished the fire.
The analytical breakdown of Dallas’s perimeter dominance is terrifying for the rest of the league:
PlayerPointsKey StatAzzi Fudd246-of-10 from 3PT, 3 STL, 2 BLKPaige Bueckers2411 PTS in the 4th, 8-of-8 FT, 6 REBArike Ogunbowale195-of-11 from 3PT, 5 AST
This marks only the 30th time in WNBA history that two teammates (Ogunbowale and Fudd) have each made at least five 3-pointers in the same game. Good luck defending that.
Ruining the Reunion
For New York, the loss wasted an incredibly balanced effort from former Oregon teammates. Satou Sabally, playing in just her second game back from a concussion suffered in last year's Finals, led the Liberty with 20 points. Ionescu started fast, scoring four quick points and dishing out 7 assists, but ran out of gas, failing to score after hitting a deep triple with five minutes left in the second quarter. Breanna Stewart chipped in a quiet 14 points and 11 rebounds.
But the real story was the math. Dallas absolutely obliterated New York from the perimeter, hitting a season-high 15 three-pointers while shooting 42.9% from deep. Combine that with a bench unit that outscored New York's reserves 38-17, and the Liberty simply didn't have the firepower to keep up, shooting an ice-cold 38.9% as a team.
What's Next?
The victory marks the Wings’ first road win in Brooklyn since July 2023, bumping them to a comfortable 4-3 on the season (and an elite 3-1 on the road).
The Liberty have zero time to lick their wounds as they host Portland on Monday night in a brutal back-to-back sequence. Meanwhile, the Wings get to fly back home to Texas to host the powerhouse Las Vegas Aces on Thursday night. If the triumvirate of Fudd, Bueckers, and Ogunbowale keep hitting shots from the parking lot, Vegas might want to bring some extra security.
