Dallas Wings coach gives ‘great’ injury update on UConn’s Azzi Fudd after season-ending surgery

The Dallas Wings have learned to win without Azzi Fudd in the lineup over the past week, extending their winning streak to three games with an 18-point victory over Portland Tuesday night. 

Fudd, a former UConn women’s basketball star, has been sidelined since Aug. 7 and was ruled out for the season last Wednesday, undergoing an arthroscopic procedure on her right knee to address continued soreness. Wings coach Jose Fernandez provided an update on Fudd’s surgery and recovery after Tuesday’s win. 

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“Azzi Fudd had a great procedure,” Fernandez said. “She’ll be back with the team after the World Cup break.” Fernandez’s comments refer to the fact that her surgery was conducted outside of Dallas – Fudd will not return to action for the Wings this season. 

Fudd’s season-ending surgery continues a string of significant injuries to her right knee, dating back to her standout high school career. The young shooting guard has torn her right ACL on two separate occasions and also picked up injuries to her MCL and meniscus. 

Her first absence came under fairly innocuous circumstances against Golden State Aug. 7, as Fudd suffered from soreness during pre-game warmups and was removed from the starting lineup out of an “abundance of caution.” Fudd was featured in full 5-on-5 scrimmages the following week during Wings practice, but she never returned to the rotation before receiving her season-ending prognosis. 

Dallas posted just a 1-4 record during Fudd’s first five games out of the lineup, struggling mightily from beyond the arc and only managing to secure a six-point victory over the bottom-feeding Toronto Tempo. The Wings have looked much improved on this week’s Pacific Northwest road trip, defeating the Seattle Storm and Portland Fire by a combined 40 points to clinch a spot in the WNBA Playoffs. 

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This article originally published at Dallas Wings coach gives ‘great’ injury update on UConn’s Azzi Fudd after season-ending surgery.