Beyond the joys of a reunion with her girlfriend Paige Bueckers at the Dallas Wings, Azzi Fudd’s special moment included a prestigious shoutout from the GOAT Michael Jordan’s sneaker brand itself. The incident occurred just a few moments after Fudd got that ceremonious No. 1 pick on the night. The Jordan sneaker brand’s IG account, @jumpman, shared a post featuring Fudd to give her a shoutout on a special day and a special ceremonial milestone.

“The odds were always in her favor. Welcome to Dallas, @azzi35,” the caption of the post read. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jordan (@jumpman23) The post wasn’t just a nod from the Jordan brand to the UConn graduate for getting the top pick on the night, but a signal to the hoops community that the future has arrived.

Fudd’s night in New York City on Monday wasn’t just historic because she became just the seventh UConn player to be drafted No. 1. But it also marked the beginning of a new era in the WNBA. With a landmark CBA in place that will see Fudd become the first No. 1 draft pick in history to receive a salary of nearly $500K, up from $79K last year.

And of course, in this historic moment of Fudd, the Jordan brand had to curate something special for one of its finest athletes of this current generation from the roster. Fudd joined the brand last month as part of an NIL deal. She was initially associated with Stephen Curry’s SC30 since 2021.

And was among the first athletes to put pen to paper with the brand. But after the shelf-life of the deal expired, Fudd made her move to Jordan’s sneaker brand, after reports came out that the former didn’t receive any further contract extension from Under Armour SC30. Even then, the Jordan brand shared a heartfelt post to welcome Fudd.

“Get buckets. Serve looks. Put the world on notice. Welcome to the fam, @azzi35,” the post’s caption read.

She joined an already-stacked roster of women’s college hoops, including her teammate Sarah Strong, LSU’s Bella Hines, Mikaylah Williams, and UCLA’s Kiki Rice, who went no.6 on the draft night along with her. The former UConn guard expressed her enthusiasm soon after joining the shoe brand, which has been worn by top players including Luka Doncic, Russell Westbrook, and Jayson Tatum. “I grew up watching what the Jumpman meant to basketball and to the culture around the game,” Fudd said.

“So becoming part of the Jordan Brand family represents what I am stepping into and the greatness that I aspire to be.” May 21, 2013; Charlotte, NC, USA; NBA team owner Michael Jordan announces that the Charlotte Bobcats will change their name and branding to the Charlotte Hornets starting in the 2014 2015 season at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports The shoutout post was definitely the icing on the cake for Fudd after the draft night. But from the brand’s perspective as well, signing Fudd just a month before the WNBA draft, knowing she could go as the No. 1 pick, is a great tactic.

And, quite naturally, the collaboration with Fudd might be the next big step for Michael Jordan’s sneaker brand as well, as Fudd transitions to the pro circuit. Michael Jordan’s Sneaker Brand Will Look to Pave Its Future WNBA Dominance With Azzi Fudd A couple of months ago, Michael Jordan’s sneaker brand’s CMO, Caitlin Sargent, emphasized that the brand is focused on elevating women. “We are a reflection of the community we serve,” Sargent said.

And if you look at the broader perspective of the brand’s focus in the last few years, they have taken every word of it to heart. The brand has signed top athletes, including Napheesa Collier and Rhyne Howard, under its umbrella in recent years, after Maya Moore tipped off the brand’s presence in the league in 2011. Of course, its parent company, NIKE, already has a WNBA roster, featuring Caitlin Clark and Sabrina Ionescu that no other sneaker brand can match.

But with these top signings, the Jordan brand is also creating a niche of its own. And Azzi Fudd might just be the next trump card that the brand needed. Of course, Fudd isn’t nearly as established as the likes of Collier or Howard.

But Fudd brings a different sort of X-factor. Being one of the top backcourt players of her generation, Fudd also has quite a substantial interest in fashion. This makes her a marketable athlete who can appeal to the next generation of players and fans, creating brand appeal through her blend of sports and fashion.

Now, we all know the talent that Fudd brings to the table on the hardwood. We have also seen what she can do on the court during her time at Storrs (amassing over 1600 points in her stint). And it’s just a matter of time before the Dallas backcourt will be echoing the name of Fudd, and her stocks eventually go higher. All in all, from a basketball and personality perspective, Fudd can be a long-term athlete for the Michael Jordan brand, complementing her generation of players and paving the way for other young athletes already under the