“Honestly, I feel more confused. I thought you could be physical in the W, and anytime you touch someone. I don’t know. I’m still figuring that out,” were Azzi Fudd’s exact words after she faced a couple of fouls against the Las Vegas Aces, immediately grabbing the league’s attention. The WNBA Draft No. 1 pick made major headlines even before delivering a major performance in the season. Most thought the 2025 NCAA champion might face major punishment for her comments, but she didn’t. Now, Sophie Cunningham, who has been on that side of the fence, has shared her two cents on the Show Me Something podcast.
“I have so many opinions now that I know that. Maybe she didn’t get fined because it’s preseason,” Cunningham said. “I’ve been fined a lot, but not more than last year. This podcast has really done some damage.”
“All I’m saying is that she has a very valid point, but you know what? New year, fresh start, and we’ve had meetings with the refs, and I think they have owned up for last year, truly. Like all of our meetings, they’re like, ‘We’ve got to be better.’ Like, does that mean I get my money back? If they’re starting to agree with what I saw the entire time, should I be able to get my money back?” She added.
As per the league’s rulebook, Fudd should have received a small fine for speaking out against officials in the media. Cunningham could be right because we haven’t heard a lot about the league charging a player in the preseason.
The controversy with officiating isn’t something new in the WNBA. It’s as old as time itself and was also one of the major demands of players in the league to at least establish a substantial standard of officiating last season. Even Cunningham faced three fines last season for her outbursts against officiating, including a $1,500 fine for her comments about the officials.
One aspect of these voices was also the level of physicality allowed in the league—to what extent does the contact still qualify as a foul? In an offseason interview, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert doubled down on these recurring criticisms, assuring everyone that the league has formed a committee to oversee the technical aspects of officiating.
Subsequently, the league saw some major improvements, with the Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark praising the refs for doing a “pretty good job” after the game against the Dallas Wings for frequent foul calls. But Fudd felt otherwise, stating that the WNBA was allowing players to be more physical.
“I think what she says is pretty valid, like it’s so much more physical than any league,” Cunningham said in that regard. “But it’s all about, like, how they’re going to call the game. Sometimes you can touch them, and sometimes you can’t. So, I think, like, you just have to get used to it.”
Apart from Cunningham, one of Fudd’s teammates also shared their thoughts on the three-time U.S.A. Basketball gold medalist’s comments during the same press conference.
WNBA veteran sounds alarm over Azzi Fudd’s officiating criticism
Though Fudd approached her complaint against officiating in an unhinged manner, her veteran teammate beside her in the press room reacted jovially to Fudd’s comments. Jessica Shepard let Fudd know that her comments could have serious consequences.
“Yeah, you’re still figuring that out,” Shepard said. “‘Cause you may get hit with a fine.”
“Just cut that,” Shepard added further.
While Shepard’s comments didn’t come true, they gave Fudd an idea of how to go about her first pro season with the Dallas Wings. Besides the officiating comments, Fudd seems to be quietly buying into the WNBA’s level. We saw a glimpse of that during the Las Vegas Aces game, where she scored 12 points and dished an assist, going 4 of 10 from the field.
With Wings’ regular season ready to tip off in a few hours, will Fudd be able to cope with the league’s physicality and adjust to that tempo in the season? How excited are you to watch Fudd in her first regular-season game? Do let us know in the comments.
