Many WNBA fans were well-aware that Dallas Wings superstar Paige Bueckers and newly-minted Wings rookie Azzi Fudd were in a relationship prior to Fudd being drafted this week. But one reporter asked the wrong question about that during a press conference this week.
During the press conference, a reporter asked if Fudd and Bueckers were still a couple and wanted her to address if she's spoken to other couples in the WNBA about having that kind of relationship. But the reporter was told by the Wings media team that there would be no questions or comments on players' personal lives.
The Issues
The clip of that interaction went viral with fans beginning to debate whether it was appropriate for that reporter to ask the question or if it's a valid concern:
"It’s weird and gossipy as hell that people keep asking her about Paige, posting about her and Paige. Paige already got drafted. They’re not conjoined twins," one user remarked on X.
"It's really not an unfair question and the Wings just turned it into a bigger story," Robin Lundberg wrote.
"It's all about reading the room here. This is basketball, right? If they want to share/or decide to, that is their business. This very much takes away the focus, which is that Azzi Fudd was drafted No. 1 overall, and this is her first and only rookie presser," a third pointed out.
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"Like it’s just way too early to ask her these things. Because to be honest, if Paige and Azzi are still together in a year, a good magazine writer can absolutely explore this dynamic. But we have no data points to build a story around yet so you’re just asking to ask."
"Can’t coddle her forever, a player dating a teammate is a huge sports story, especially when the players are top level."
Ultimately, it's really not anyone's business what the personal relationship between Fudd and Bueckers is like. Until we actually see the two of them play basketball together in the WNBA, questions like that don't have a whole lot of value other than trying to stir up gossip.
