The Tamesis
There are no off days for Azzi Fudd, not even for the 2026 WNBA Draft.
“We woke up at 5:50 today so I could go work out before everything started,” Fudd said Fashion Hours before the draft, in the hair and makeup chair at The Shed in New York. “We went to bed at 1:00 p.m., so I was very tired,” she said.
Still, Forde was overwhelmed with excitement and wanted a look that suited the occasion. “It’s moments like this where I’m so excited to really go all out and get better and do everything I want to do,” she said. While she describes her everyday style as comfort-oriented, she did a 180 during the WNBA draft.
Coach designed a silver sequined silk chiffon slip for Fudd, paired with a black lace-up bodice and finished with a floor-length black velvet bow. She paired it with a pair of black sandals and a Coach Tabby bag. Forde admitted that the first time someone made something for her was intimidating. “I’m not going to lie, I was a little scared at first,” she said. But watching this dress go from mood board to finished product was amazing. “I’m not artistic at all, so it’s super, super cool to see this.”
Forde’s family and friends came to New York to see her future with her. “I’m surrounded by everyone I love,” she said. “My parents, brothers, grandparents, my family and my best friends are all here. Having them around makes everything incredible.”
She also found support from people who understood what she was going through. In the lead-up to the draft, Forde’s rival from UConn had become a close friend. “I was a little nervous,” she said of watching her fellow draftees leave the field. But it turns out there’s nothing to worry about. “The girls here are so fun. You can tell everyone here is excited for each other, which is pretty special.”
She also turned to former friends and teammates for advice. (It doesn’t hurt that her girlfriend, Paige Bueckers, was drafted to the Dallas Wings last year.) “All the advice I got was to enjoy the moment and soak it in,” she said. “Make sure you’re happy and well, and don’t let anyone take away the special meaning of tonight.” It seems she has taken it all to heart. “I’m on top of the world right now,” she declares.
