Liberty-Wings game postponed after New York sat on tarmac for 12 hours The New York Liberty’s charter flight faced mechanical issues Wednesday, stranding the team on a tarmac for 12 hours and forcing the postponement of their scheduled road game against the Dallas Wings. The matchup, originally set for Thursday night at the College Park Center in Arlington, Texas, was rescheduled to Monday night with a tipoff time of 7 p.m. CT. Broadcast details for the rescheduled game remain pending. Liberty coaches and players shared updates about the travel delay on social media. Assistant coach Kristen Mann posted on Instagram that the team spent nine hours on the plane without moving, describing the situation as “nowhere.” The Liberty remained in New York on Thursday and were set to fly to Indiana on Friday ahead of Saturday’s game against the Indiana Fever. Rookie Pauline Astier also posted on her Instagram story at around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, noting that after 10 hours, the team’s plane was still on the tarmac. She captioned the post with a message in French: “10h après toujours sur le tamarac,” accompanied by a photo of her sitting beside developmental player Marine Fauthoux. The Liberty did not respond to a request for comment at the time of publication. Dallas Wings officials became aware of the delay shortly before midnight Wednesday. While the Wings’ side of the situation was less dramatic, the team adjusted its plans, turning a scheduled gameday shootaround into a practice session. The focus shifted to preparing for an upcoming game against the Los Angeles Sparks. Dallas guard Azzi Fudd described the situation as “a weird wakeup,” but praised the team’s ability to adapt. “I think we did a great job pivoting,” she said. The travel disruption was compounded by severe weather conditions.#azzi_fudd #dallas_wings #new_york_liberty #jose_fernandez #college_park_center
Azzi Fudd's Defensive Growth Elevates Dallas Wings' Playoff Hopes HARTFORD — Azzi Fudd’s rookie season with the Dallas Wings has been defined by her evolution as a defender, a shift that has positioned the team as a playoff contender. While her signature 3-point shooting has drawn attention, it is her defensive impact that has become the cornerstone of her success in the WNBA. Just 20 games into her professional career, Fudd has emerged as a key contributor, leading all guards in the league with 20 blocks and anchoring the Wings’ resurgence. Fudd’s journey to the WNBA began with her stellar college career at UConn, where she was a top 10 performer in 3-pointers made and percentage. However, her defensive prowess, though critical to her success at the collegiate level, often went unnoticed amid her scoring accolades. Now in the professional league, Fudd has embraced her role as a perimeter defender, adapting to the physicality and pace of the WNBA. Dallas coach Jose Fernandez highlighted her ability to guard the opposition’s best players, noting her anticipation, active play, and knack for disrupting opponents’ attacks. “She’s active, and she walls up, and she gets blocks,” Fernandez said. “I think she does a lot of things that don’t show up on the stat sheet.” The Wings’ need for a versatile perimeter shooter became evident in the 2025 season, when they ranked among the worst in the WNBA in 3-point shooting. Drafted first overall in April 2026, Fudd was selected for her elite shooting ability, which has translated to immediate impact. In her first 20 games, she ranks second on the team with 1.9 3-pointers per game and fourth in 3-point percentage (38.4%). Her ability to stretch the floor has elevated the Wings’ offensive output, with the team averaging 8.2 3-pointers per game and a 33.#uconn #paige_bueckers #azzi_fudd #dallas_wings #jose_fernandez
