Dallas' Azzi Fudd first rookie to
win 3-point shootout at WNBA All-Star weekend
[July 25, 2026]
By DOUG FEINBERG
CHICAGO (AP) — Azzi Fudd had no idea she was the first rookie to win
the WNBA All-Star 3-point contest. She put forth a stellar effort in
the championship round to do it.
Fudd, the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft by Dallas, scored 30 points
in the finals to top Portland's Bridget Carleton.
“I was shocked, that’s crazy to be the first is definitely an
honor,” Fudd said of being the first rookie to win.
Fudd's 30-point effort was tied for the second-most ever, equaling
Sabrina Ionescu and Allie Quigley's total. Ionescu holds the record,
scoring 37 points in 2023.
Fudd hit her first six shots in the finals to get into rhythm.
Carleton, from the expansion Fire, had 29 points in the opening
round, but struggled in the finals, scoring 19 points.
Fresh off her victory, Fudd issued a playful request for a rematch
with Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry. The two had a 3-point
competition when Fudd went to his camp when she was in high school.
“I mean Steph if you’re listening, I'm asking for a rematch,” Fudd
said.
The 3-point competition capped off the Friday night festivities.
Elena Delle Donne, Shakira Austin and high schooler Jezelle Banks
led team Washington to the Shooting Stars championship to tipoff the
action. The trio scored 31 points to edge Seattle’s three in the
finals, with Banks hitting two of the 4-point shots from just inside
halfcourt to put the team over the top.
“She carried. She carried,” Austin said of Banks. “You could just
tell in her energy, like as soon as we started, like it was
confidence and I think that showed in how she hit those tough
shots.”
In the 3-point competition, Carleton had a stellar first-round,
scoring 29 points. She hit 13 of her first 16 shots. Fudd also had a
great opening round, scoring 24 points. She made four of her final
five shots. That carried over to the finals.
Carleton’s hot shooting in the opening round brought the crowd,
which included Jayson Tatum, Russell Westbrook, NBA Commissioner
Adam Silver, Dwyane Wade and Sheryl Swoopes, to its feet.
Other players in 3-point contest were Atlanta’s Rhyne Howard, who
scored 20 points, Golden State’s Janelle Salaun, who had 19 points;
Toronto’s Marina Mabrey, who had 18 and Minnesota’s Natisha Heideman,
who had 17.
In the Shooting Stars competition, Seattle had 24 points to finish
as runner-up after missing all of the team’s 4-point shots.
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Dallas Wings guard Azzi Fudd (35) dribbles against Los Angeles
Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike (30) during the first half of a WNBA
basketball game, Sunday, July 19, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (Elías
Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News via AP)
This was the first year that the contest was
conducted. A skills competition was done in previous All-Star
weekends. The format was a two-round, timed shooting competition in
which teams had 70 seconds to score as many points as possible from
seven shooting locations around the court. The competition featured
shots ranging from a layup to the 4-pointer.
Washington had the highest score in the preliminary round, posting
35 points. Once again, Banks hit 4-point shots to help her team
reach the championship round.
Seattle’s squad needed to beat the 20 points that the Detroit/Dallas
team put up to advance to the finals. High schooler Tatianna Griffin
hit two of the 4-point shots to help Seattle reach the finals.
Minnesota finished in fourth with 19 points with a team of Courtney
Williams, Rebbekah Brunson and Ryan Carter.
Detroit/Dallas had former Shock great Deanna Nolan, Wings All-Star
Jessica Shepard and high schooler Morghan Reckley.
The new CBA gave Fudd $20,000 for winning the 3-point contest and
each participant received $10,000. That’s about eight-times last
season’s prize money.
Each shooting stars winner received $15,000. Each competitor, not
including the high school players, will receive $7,500. Last year,
the winners of the skills contest each received $2,575 from the
WNBA.
In addition Aflac, like it has the past two years, gave extra money
to the winners. Fudd took home $40,000 for winning the 3-point
contest. Carleton received $30,000 for finishing second and Howard
got $15,000 for placing third.
Team Washington got $40,000 from Aflac with Seattle receiving
$32,500 and Dallas $12,500.
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