The Dallas Wings have certainly felt Fudd’s absence. The No. 1 overall pick has missed four straight games since developing right knee soreness during pregame warmups against the Golden State Valkyries on Aug. 7. Dallas managed to snap its three-game losing streak without her by beating the Toronto Tempo on Wednesday, but the Wings then fell 98-87 to the Indiana Fever on Friday.
They enter Monday at 20-15, still holding the final playoff spot with nine games remaining. However, Dallas will be without Fudd again when it visits the Valkyries on Monday. She has been ruled out, making it five consecutive games on the sideline.
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That fifth absence, however, does not necessarily mean Fudd’s return-to-play process has taken a step backward. Head coach Jose Fernandez previously explained that Fudd was working through a return-to-play protocol involving the team’s medical and performance staffs, and she had already returned to full-contact work in practice before being held out again.
After concluding their two-game road trip at Golden State, the Wings will return home on Thursday to host Caitlin Clark and the Fever again. That means Fudd could potentially be available when the team is back in Dallas, barring any setback.
Dallas will also be short-handed elsewhere. Aziaha James is out, while Jessica Shepard has been upgraded to probable, giving the Wings a chance to get one of their most productive frontcourt players back. Shepard is averaging 14.2 points, 11.4 rebounds and 5.2 assists this season.
Paige Bueckers and the Wings are 1-4 without Fudd this season, with their only win coming against Toronto. They will now try to win another game without their rookie star against a Golden State team that is 24-9 and has won five straight.
