Wings' Fudd tops Fire's Carleton to win WNBA 3-point shootout
Azzi Fudd of the Dallas Wings has made WNBA history. She is the first rookie to win the WNBA All-Star 3-point contest. Fudd put on a performance in the championship round, scoring 30 points to secure the title. This total matched the previous winning mark set by Sabrina Ionescu last season.
Fudd faced off against Bridget Carleton of the Portland Fire in the final round. While Carleton led the field in the opening round with 29 points, she struggled to find her rhythm in the championship and finished with 19. Fudd began the final round with six consecutive successful shots, which allowed her to pull away early.
The event drew a notable crowd to Chicago, including NBA figures like Adam Silver and Dwyane Wade. In addition to the individual contest, the evening featured the Shooting Stars competition. Team Washington, consisting of Elena Delle Donne, Shakira Austin, and high schooler Jezelle Banks, took that title with a score of 31 points.
The financial stakes for the participants saw a clear shift this year. Fudd earned $20,000 for her victory, with all other participants receiving $10,000. These figures represent an eightfold increase in prize money compared to the previous season. Additional sponsorship from Aflac provided further payouts, bringing Fudd's total take-home pay for the win to $40,000.