Cotie McMahon Projected to Connecticut Sun in Final WNBA Mock Draft at No. 15 The 2026 WNBA Draft, set to begin in New York on Monday, April 13, has generated significant anticipation as teams finalize their strategies for the upcoming season. While the first overall pick has remained uncertain, recent developments in free agency have narrowed the focus for the Dallas Wings, who are expected to select UConn guard Azzi Fudd at No. 1. Other candidates for the top spot include Spanish forward Awa Fam, UCLA center Lauren Betts, and TCU guard Olivia Miles. However, the spotlight has shifted to Ole Miss standout Cotie McMahon, whose projected selection in USA TODAY’s final mock draft highlights her potential impact on the league. McMahon, a versatile forward with a strong offensive skill set, is anticipated to be chosen at No. 15 overall by the Connecticut Sun. The Sun’s selection of McMahon aligns with their need for a dynamic wing player capable of contributing immediately. McMahon’s ability to score from midrange, drive to the basket, and create space for teammates makes her a valuable asset for a team looking to strengthen its offensive options. Her high-energy playstyle and adaptability to different roles—whether as a wing or forward—position her as a key addition to the Sun’s roster. The mock draft, which incorporates potential trades and protections, reflects the evolving landscape of the WNBA. McMahon’s projected pick at No. 15 underscores her status as a first-round talent, despite the competition from other top prospects. Her performance at Ole Miss, where she averaged 19.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3 assists per game while shooting 45.1% from the field and 28.6% from beyond the arc, has solidified her reputation as a well-rounded player.#ole_miss #azzi_fudd #wnba_draft #connecticut_sun #cotie_mcmahon
WNBA Legend Says Wings Could Form Title Duo With Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd When you get to the WNBA, if you have two guards that can pretty much do everything — defend, pass, shoot the three, get to the paint — then we’re talking about building championship DNA,” Taurasi said. The Huskies just keep on winning, as they await the North Carolina Tar Heels in the Sweet 16 in the hopes that by the end of the month, Fudd, again, will be Final Four-bound. Could Paige Bueckers Play With Azzi Fudd Again? Mar 2, 2026; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Breeze BC guard Paige Bueckers (5) at Barclay's Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images “I think just from a bird’s eye view, you would say Azzi is the number one pick and, you know, the synergy that she has with Paige on the court, they play great together,” Taurasi said. Loading recommendations... Please wait while we load personalized content recommendations Published 6 hours ago | Modified 6 hours ago Zain Bando is a writer & columnist for Gameday Media's MMA Knockout, expanding his portfolio as a Staff Writer for Dallas Wings On SI with previous in-network contributions around the echosystem. Outside of covering fights, Bando's background includes Big Ten football and men's basketball with leans toward Illinois and Northwestern with a broader league view for bylines including The Sporting News, FanSided, Men's Journal and others since 2019. Bando can be reached at zainbando99@gmail.com or via his social media accounts @zainbando99. Home/ Paige Bueckers#paige_bueckers #azzi_fudd #wnba_legend #dallas_wings #brooklyn_ny
No. 1 UConn Women’s Basketball Faces No. 4 North Carolina in NCAA Sweet 16 For the first time in four years, UConn women’s basketball will compete in the NCAA Sweet 16 just one time zone away from its home state instead of two. The No. 1 overall seed Huskies will take on No. 4 North Carolina Friday evening in Fort Worth, Texas, in a matchup that marks their third consecutive season against the Tar Heels. The game will be broadcast live at 5 p.m. ET, with coverage available on UConn Sports Network and various radio stations. UConn, which has reached the Sweet 16 32 straight years, aims to extend its streak of consecutive Elite Eight appearances to three and secure its 30th overall trip to the round of eight. The Huskies are 29-3 all-time in the Sweet 16, with their most recent loss coming to Ohio State in the 2023 regional semifinal. A victory would set up a potential Elite Eight clash against the winner of the Notre Dame-Vanderbilt matchup, with the winner advancing to the Final Four in Phoenix. The Huskies’ path to the Sweet 16 included a dominant 98-45 win over No. 9 Syracuse, where Azzi Fudd led the charge with a career-high tying 34 points, including eight 3-pointers. Fudd’s performance earned her a spot among the top four finalists for the Naismith Player of the Year award, while teammate Sarah Strong was also a top four finalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year. Fudd is 20 points away from moving into the top 20 on UConn’s all-time scoring list and is closing in on the school’s single-season 3-point record. UConn’s history against North Carolina is marked by high-stakes encounters. The teams last met on Nov. 15, 2024, in Greensboro, where Geno Auriemma secured his 1,216th career win by defeating the Tar Heels 69-58. UNC’s last victory over UConn came on Jan.#north_carolina #azzi_fudd #geno_auriemma #uconn_womens_basketball #courtney_banhart
UConn's Sarah Strong, UCLA's Lauren Betts, Vanderbilt's Mikayla Blakes lead star-studded AP All-America 1st team The 34-0 UConn Huskies were prominently featured on the AP All-America team, with Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd becoming the 10th pair of teammates to earn first-team honors. This marks the first time since Oregon's Sabrina Ionescu and Ruthy Hebard in 2020 that UConn has had two players named to the first team. Strong and Fudd were instrumental in leading the NCAA tournament favorite this season. Strong, a unanimous selection with 31 first-place votes, averaged 18.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 3.4 steals, and 1.6 blocks. She leads UConn in all categories except assists, where she trails only KK Arnold by 0.7. Strong also shoots 60.1% from the field and 42.7% from beyond the arc as a sophomore. Fudd, averaging 17.7 points, 3 assists, and 2.6 rebounds, shot 48.9% from the field and 44.6% from three-point range. Alongside Strong and Fudd, the first team includes Vanderbilt's Mikayla Blakes (29 first-place votes), Texas' Madison Booker (29 first-place votes), and UCLA's Lauren Betts. Blakes leads the NCAA in scoring with an average of 27 points per game. Betts, the Big Ten Player of the Year, was named to the first team and earned the conference's Defensive Player of the Year award for the second consecutive year. She helped UCLA secure a 31-1 season and its second straight Big Ten title. Booker, a second-team selection for the second year in a row, contributed to Texas' SEC tournament title after defeating South Carolina in the championship game. The second team includes Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo, South Carolina's Joyce Edwards, TCU's Olivia Miles, Iowa State's Audi Crooks, and Ohio State's Jaloni Cambridge.#uconn_huskies #sarah_strong #azzi_fudd #vanderbilt #mikayla_blakes
UConn's Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd have been named to the AP All-America 1st team, becoming the first teammates in six years to achieve this honor. The duo helped UConn secure an undefeated season heading into March Madness, marking the 10th time in history that teammates have been selected to the first team, with seven of those instances involving UConn players. The last pair to accomplish this feat was Oregon's Sabrina Ionescu and Ruthy Hebard in 2020. Strong and Fudd were joined on the first team by Vanderbilt's Mikayla Blakes, UCLA's Lauren Betts, and Texas' Madison Booker. Strong, a unanimous selection from the 31-member national media panel, averaged 18.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per game while shooting 60.1% from the field. Fudd contributed 17.7 points and 4.2 rebounds, shooting 43.6% from beyond the arc. UConn coach Geno Auriemma praised their efforts, noting that Strong "picked up where she left off last season" and that Fudd's perseverance after overcoming challenges "has paid off." Blakes, a standout sophomore, led the nation in scoring with 27 points per game, adding 4.4 assists and a 45.8% field goal shooting rate. Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph highlighted her impact, stating that Blakes has "cemented herself as one of the best players in the country" and "elevated her play against the toughest competition." Blakes became only the second first-team All-American in Vanderbilt's history, joining Chantelle Anderson in 2002. Betts, a senior for UCLA, averaged 18.5 points and 7.6 rebounds while shooting 60.1% from the field. This marks her second consecutive season on the first team, making her the first Bruins player to earn this honor twice. UCLA coach Cori Close called Betts a "generational player," emphasizing her influence on both the court and the program. Booker, a junior for Texas, averaged 18.9 points and 6.#uconn #sarah_strong #azzi_fudd #vanderbilt #mikayla_blakes
2026 Big East Women's Basketball Tournament: UConn Dominates, Secures NCAA Tournament Seed UConn secured another Big East tournament title with a commanding 90-51 victory over Villanova on Monday night, cementing their status as the top team in the conference. The Huskies, led by head coach Geno Auriemma, delivered a blowout performance at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, extending their dominance in the tournament and their season. The win marked UConn’s 11th undefeated regular season in program history, with the team finishing the year with a perfect 31-0 record. This achievement further extended their historic win streak, which now spans 47 games dating back to their 2025 national championship run. The Huskies have only had one game this season where the final margin was within single digits—a three-point win over then-No. 6 Michigan in November. Since then, UConn has averaged a staggering 37.8-point margin per game, ranking third in NCAA women’s basketball history for scoring dominance. Only two previous UConn teams had a higher average. The tournament victory solidified UConn’s position as the No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament. Villanova, which reached the championship game, will also earn an at-large bid, but the Wildcats were outmatched against the Huskies. UConn’s performance in the Big East tournament mirrored their regular-season dominance, as they controlled every aspect of the game. The Huskies led for the entire contest, holding Villanova to just 23 points in the first half before cruising to the win. Azzi Fudd led UConn with 19 points, shooting 8-of-13 from the field. Sarah Strong added 18 points and eight rebounds, while Blanca Quiñonez contributed 13 points off the bench.#uconn #sarah_strong #azzi_fudd #geno_auriemma #blanca_quinonez
Unbeaten UConn women's basketball is close to a title repeat The University of Connecticut women’s basketball team, led by head coach Geno Auriemma, is on the verge of securing its 13th NCAA championship and seventh undefeated season after dominating the 2025-26 campaign. With six victories remaining to clinch a perfect season, the Huskies have maintained their dominance through a combination of elite talent, strategic depth, and a relentless focus on execution. Their path to the Final Four will be revealed when the NCAA bracket is released, but for now, the team continues its pursuit of history. Auriemma’s squad has been anchored by standout performers like freshman phenom Olivia Strong and senior guard Azzi Fudd, who have emerged as key figures in the program’s success. Strong, the top recruit from the 2024 class, has lived up to her billing as a versatile forward. She averaged 18.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 3.4 steals while shooting 60.1% from the field and 42.7% on three-pointers. Her performance in the 2025 Final Four, where she led UConn with 46 points and 23 rebounds against UCLA and South Carolina, earned comparisons to potential future WNBA draft prospects. Coach Dawn Staley of South Carolina acknowledged Strong’s impact, suggesting she could become the best UConn player of all time. Fudd, meanwhile, has evolved into a seasoned leader after overcoming injury setbacks. Projected as the No. 1 pick in the 2026 WNBA draft, she has averaged career highs in points (17.7), assists (3.0), and steals (2.5) while improving her shooting efficiency. Her ability to step into the role of primary ball-handler following the departure of Paige Bueckers has been critical to UConn’s success.#south_carolina #university_of_connecticut #geno_auriemma #olivia_strong #azzi_fudd
