Azzi Fudd, Wings spoil Sabrina Ionescu’s season debut in Liberty’s second straight loss

Azzi Fudd didn’t ask to be the No. 1 overall pick.

She didn’t ask for the lofty expectations that come with it.

She does her best to tune out the exterior scrutiny that reverberates around her as she finds her footing in the WNBA. 

But Fudd on Sunday showed why the Dallas Wings used the top pick on the former UConn star.

Fudd and the Wings spoiled Sabrina Ionescu’s highly anticipated season debut. 

Dallas, led by Fudd, blitzed the Liberty in the third quarter. 

After scoring only four points in the first half, Fudd dropped 17 in the third quarter alone, draining 5-of-7 attempts from beyond the arc. 

After one of the 3s, Fudd looked back at Breanna Stewart and smiled. 

Fudd found her rhythm.

She looked invincible.

It felt like every time she put a shot up, it was bound to go in.

Fudd shattered her previous career high of 12 points set last week with 24 points off the bench. 

Sunday exposed the Liberty.

The absences of Leonie Fiebich (rest) and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (personal reasons) were all the more glaring.

The Liberty did a good job patrolling the paint, but New York, without its two best perimeter defenders, had no solution to slowing the Wings’ elite guard play. 

Paige Bueckers finished with 24 points and Arike Ogunbowale added 19. 

Another troublesome trend from a year ago is starting to form, too.

The Liberty are struggling in third quarters again, as they’ve been outscored in that frame in four of its six games. 

The Wings turned New York’s one-point halftime lead into a 10-point deficit heading into the fourth quarter.

Sunday should’ve been about the Liberty inching closer to full strength, how Ionescu’s return made the team more organized and tougher.

The conversation after the game should’ve been about Satou Sabally brushing off the rust in her second game of the season as she scored a team-high 20 points.

But Fudd and Bueckers stole the show.

Bueckers clapped as she dribbled out the clock on the Wings’ last possession.

Some fans cheered her on; many headed to the exits. 

Ionescu, in her first game, finished with 11 points, seven assists and five rebounds. 

The Liberty, who are 3-3 this season, have a quick turnaround, with the Portland Fire at Barclays Center on Monday.