The Sisterhood Divided: Mock Draft Splits UConn’s Inseparable Duo, Setting Up Paige Bueckers vs. Azzi Fudd for WNBA Supremacy

The bond forged on the legendary courts of UConn women’s basketball—a partnership defined by shared Final Fours, triumphant scoring runs, and the sheer force of mutual talent—was supposed to survive the transition to the professional ranks. Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd, the backcourt duo who captivated the nation with their seamless chemistry and dazzling athleticism, were the future of the WNBA. Fans envisioned them together, winning championships, or at the very least, operating in different conferences, cheering one another on.

But the WNBA is not a fairy tale. It is a brutal, market-driven business, and its latest twist of fate has engineered a dramatic, high-stakes conflict. A seismic prediction from a fresh Bleacher Report mock draft, authored by analyst Rachel Galligan, has not only rocketed Fudd’s stock but has intentionally positioned her as the new arch-nemesis to her former teammate. In a move that has sent fan speculation into immediate overdrive, Galligan slots the sharpshooting Fudd as the No. 4 overall pick to the rebuilding Washington Mystics, pitting her directly against Bueckers, the reigning Queen of Dallas. The “inseparable duo” is now destined to be the WNBA’s fiercest professional rivalry.

Fudd’s Scorching Senior Surge: The $4 Shot

The foundation for this dramatic split was built entirely on Fudd’s sensational senior year performance. After battling frustrating knee woes early in her career, the 6-foot-1 sniper delivered on her prodigious potential, turning in a scorching season that averaged 18.3 points per game while hitting an elite 42.1% from three-point range. That kind of “off-ball menace” and pull-up expertise translates immediately to the pro game, particularly in a league that is increasingly prioritizing high-volume, high-efficiency shooting.

The Mystics, holding the No. 4 pick, are reportedly undergoing a youth movement, with a roster that includes promising young talent like Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen. Galligan’s rationale for the Mystics’ selection was purely strategic, focusing on the team’s desperate need for elite spacing and a versatile scorer:

“Fudd’s elite pull-up and off-ball menace could climb boards, but Washington’s youth movement—Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen—needs her spacing.” Fudd’s ability to draw a second defender allows the rest of the roster, particularly the bigs, to operate with greater freedom—a tactical necessity for any team aiming to compete with the league’s high-octane offenses.

However, the basketball rationale is almost overshadowed by the dramatic irony of the scenario. The Mystics are not just getting a shooter; they are acquiring the perfect counterpoint to the player who currently dominates the league.

The Reign of Queen Paige: A Blueprint for Rivalry

The entire WNBA landscape was already reshaped by the arrival of Paige Bueckers. Drafted No. 1 overall in 2025 by the Dallas Wings, Bueckers didn’t just meet expectations; she obliterated them. Her rookie campaign was an explosion of talent, earning her the unanimous Rookie of the Year award after a mesmerizing season where she averaged a sensational 22.4 points and 7.8 assists per game. Bueckers is now the indisputable face of the Wings, leading their aggressive lottery bid for UCLA’s standout big, Lauren Betts, with their own No. 1 pick in this year’s draft.

The pairing of Bueckers in Dallas and Fudd in Washington, both dominant figures in their respective backcourts, sets the stage for a high-octane, geographic rivalry built on personal history. Every pass, every pull-up, and every turnover will be viewed through the lens of their former partnership. The WNBA, a league that thrives on compelling narratives, just won the lottery for manufactured, yet deeply personal, drama. Fans are already buzzing over the potential playoff clashes: two players who knew each other’s games intimately, who built their careers on complementing one another, now forced to tear down the other’s aspirations.

The IG Live and the “Sis” Text: Family vs. Fire

The inevitable tension has not gone unacknowledged by the principals themselves. Azzi Fudd, currently recovering from her knee ailments but locked into the draft process, addressed the projection directly during a post-workout Instagram Live session. While understanding the media’s hunger for conflict, she carefully sought to downplay the severity of the rift, insisting their bond remains unbreakable, even under the pressure of professional stakes.

“Rivals? Nah, still family—just competing harder,” Fudd stated, offering a nuanced, diplomatic refusal to engage in the hostile narrative. It was a statement that acknowledges the new reality—they must compete to win—while honoring the deep personal connection they share.

The ultimate moment of emotional truth, however, came from the other side of the dynamic. According to sources close to Fudd, Bueckers immediately texted her former partner upon seeing the projection. It was a brief, powerful, and utterly dramatic message that affirmed the sisterhood while accepting the new rules of the game: “See you on the court, sis.”

This is the complexity of the modern professional athlete: they are at once brand, performer, and human. The “sis” confirms the enduring UConn pride, but the “See you on the court” is the official declaration of pro stakes. It’s a promise and a threat, wrapped in a single, emotionally loaded phrase.

The 2027 Showdown

The WNBA is currently navigating the complexities of its Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) flux, a period of transition and high financial sensitivity. The Mystics, armed with a haul of three first-rounders in this year’s draft, are clearly building for the future. The expectation is that both Fudd and Bueckers will reach their peak performance and marketability around the same time, setting the stage for a sustained, high-profile rivalry for the next decade.

The true, league-defining clash—the one that will send ratings skyrocketing and sell out arenas across the country—is being teased for the 2027 season, when both players are fully established stars leading their respective franchises. It will be a rivalry built on mutual respect, unparalleled intensity, and the dramatic question of which backcourt general can successfully dismantle the game they spent four years building together.

For the WNBA, the mock draft’s decision to pit these two forces against each other is a stroke of accidental genius. It has transformed a simple draft projection into a dramatic narrative hook, injecting immediate, intense personal stakes into the league’s competitive landscape. UConn pride meets pro stakes—fireworks incoming, indeed.