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Azzi Fudd, the No. 1 pick in this year’s WNBA Draft and a product of St. John’s College High School, made history in Chicago by becoming the first rookie to win the WNBA 3-Point Contest. The victory at Wintrust Arena not only highlights her shooting pedigree but also reinforces the growing national profile of players from the DMV region.
Historic finish in Chicago
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Fudd closed the final round with a 30-point outing to secure the title, a performance that left her visibly surprised by the milestone. She said she hadn’t expected to be the first first-year player to capture the event, calling the moment “an honor.”
The result arrives months after she became the first Washington, D.C.–Maryland–Virginia (DMV) native to be selected No. 1 overall in the WNBA Draft, underlining a breakout year for the young guard now with the Dallas Wings.
A shooting arc that began years ago
Fudd’s long-range touch was evident long before she reached the professional ranks. In high school she led St. John’s College High to a 35–1 season and a DCSAA title, and in 2019 she was named the Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year — becoming the first sophomore to win the award.
As a mid-teen, she attended Steph Curry’s SC30 Select Camp and won that camp’s three-point competition, a moment she has recalled while calling for a friendly rematch with Curry after Friday’s victory.
Family roots and support
Basketball runs in Fudd’s family. Her father, Tim Fudd, played collegiately at American University, while her mother, Katie Smrcka-Duffy Fudd, starred at NC State and Georgetown and was later selected in the 2001 WNBA Draft. Fudd credited her parents for teaching her how to shoot.
- Final-round score: 30 points
- Venue: Wintrust Arena, Chicago
- Notable high school honors: 2019 Gatorade National Player of the Year; led St. John’s to a 35–1 record
- Early development: Winner of the SC30 Select Camp three-point contest as a teenager
- WNBA Draft milestone: First DMV native taken No. 1 overall
DMV presence at All-Star Weekend
The All-Star festivities in Chicago featured several players with local ties. Maryland, Virginia and D.C. alumni and natives appeared across events and competitions, reflecting the region’s deep pipeline of talent.
Among those representing the area were Shakira Austin and Jonquel Jones (both connected to Riverdale Baptist School), Angel Reese from Baltimore, and Rebekka Brunson — now an assistant coach — who is the only person in WNBA history to win five league championships as a player.
High-school prospect Jezelle “GG” Banks, who moved to the St. James Performance Academy in Springfield, Virginia, was also part of the weekend’s conversation; she remains a top-ranked recruit with multiple Division I offers.
What this means going forward
Fudd’s victory is more than a trophy. For the Dallas Wings it signals a rookie with reliable perimeter scoring under pressure. For the WNBA and local communities, it adds to the narrative that the DMV continues to produce top-tier talent — from high school standouts to pro impact players.
Her win should also raise her profile commercially and on-court; three-point shooting is a premium skill in today’s game, and capturing a marquee skill competition during All-Star Weekend gives Fudd a higher national platform as the regular season resumes.
