Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckersdrew a hard line on her relationship withNo.1 overall draft pick Azzi Fudd.
On Monday, during the Wings' media day, Bueckers used her opening statement to address her relationship with Fudd. Bueckers said she planned to address it once with the media, and the pair would decide to share moving forward as they saw fit.
"Me and Azzi have always been the utmost professional. We've always conducted ourselves as such, and we'd never let anything that happens off the court carry onto the court,"Bueckers said. "And that's what we continue to do.
"We've been doing this for a long time. ... So we will continue to use that experience to show up and be professionals, teammates, great leaders − great leaders, the hardest workers and continue to show up and do our job and help the Dallas Wings win basketball games."
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
Bueckers reiterated she understood the media has a job to do and will ask questions about the basketball aspect of their relationship. However, if the questions turn to their personal relationship, Bueckers said she and Fudd will refer to her statement on Monday or deflect to questions about their teammates.
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Bueckers also said Fudd was the No. 1 draft pick because she earned it and it had nothing to do with her and everything to do with who Fudd is as person and basketball player.
"Azzi is her own great, individual person, and she should be celebrated as such," Bueckers said.
Bueckers and her relationship with Fudd were recently pushed into the spotlight during Fudd's introductory press conference on April 16. Fudd was asked a pointed question about whether she was still in a relationship with Bueckers. The Wings public relations team stepped in toshut down the question.
“I understand why you have to ask that question. But we are going to respectfully decline on commenting on a player’s personal life," a Wings PR person said.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Paige Bueckers sets firm boundary on Azzi Fudd relationship
