#THE BACKCOURT | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

beaureveries · 21 days ago

Text

ONE SHOT : NUMBER ONE FAN

Dallas Wings paige x Golden State Valkyries azzi

trigger : lovers to rivals (just for the game) + fluff

I loved writing this sm! please let me know what you think, and feel free to request if you have any pazzi story ideas. <3

- 3.5k words

——————————————————————————

The day has finally came.

The day that everybody was waiting for ever since the 2026 WNBA draft players were announced.

Azzi Fudd the number one draft pick for the Golden state valkyries in 2026

Up against

Paige Bueckers the number one draft pick for the Dallas Wings back in 2025.

Also former teammates at Uconn known as the best backcourt duo that led Connecticut to win their 12th NCAA Championship after the long drought.

The first official match up between the two best friends ever since high school

Was finally happening.

Dallas Wings vs Golden State Valkyries

And everybody was simply sweating nervously in their seats, preparing to watch one of the best match ups to ever probably exist in the history of the WNBA.

Cause who doesn’t know the Multi talented Paige Bueckers who won the Rookie player of the year last season. Added on with her as the highest player to score in assists and blocks throughout the season.

Don’t even get me started with her perfect midrange and court awareness.

And of course who doesn’t know Azzi Fudd. One of the most or just might be the best shooter in the nation that just led Uconn to their 13th NCAA championship, back to back.

Her shooting stroke? Effortless and Pretty.

Easily one of the best.

Not to mention their relationship throughout the years that caused speculations in the public eye, wondering if they were truly just best friends.

Best friends to Rivals? Who doesn’t love that.

Easily causing this match up to be one of the most anticipated WNBA game of the season with a full sold out arena at chase center San Francisco, California.

Accumulated over 18,000 people at the Valkyries home state game.

· · ─ ·✶· ─ · · · · ─ ·✶· ─ · · · · ─ ·✶· ─ · · · · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·

“Who do you have your money on?” KK yelled at her teammates over the loud background music and cheering crowd.

Sitting in the middle of the court-side was the Uconn and former Uconn team. Sarah, Jana, Nika, Aubrey, Aaliyah and more.

You name it, we got it.

Cause who would want to miss the match up of the century? Especially when they themselves know that Paige and Azzi were clearly not just best friends.

But girlfriends.

Attached by the the hip and inseparable girlfriends might i add.

Lovers to Rivals? Even better.

“I got my money on Paige.” Jana shouted back.

“Me too” Nika added, raising her right hand while she scrolls on her left waiting for the game to begin.

“Nah y’all be tripping, we know Azzi bout to win for real” Aaliyah interfered in an obvious tone, walking back to her seat with a corndog on her hand.

“Yea I bet Paige has her money on Azzi too” Ice shouted loudly that made the whole team laugh, nodding in agreement.

The whole arena was bubbling with excitement as the crowd was screaming so loudly, chanting Paige and Azzi over and over again.

After what felt for ages for the fans, the buzzer finally rung indicating the match was about to begin.

They began off with the starting five introductions as always.

“As point guard… Number 5 Paige Bueckers” the commentator introduced as the fans screamed.

Paige smile unusually bright as she stands from the bench clapping her teammates before she walks off to the middle of the court.

Her smile never seems to fade as she moves her head like instinct to the other side of the court, wandering off to the one and only girl that always has her attention.

“And now for the golden state valkyries starting five, we have the rookie as shooting guard number 35…Azzi Fudd”

The crowd was roaring at this point.

Paige’s eyes never trailing off the brown headed girl as she claps her teammates with her beautiful dimples full on view for the whole arena to see.

Azzi was smiling so effortlessly and her eyes shone bright full of pure excitement.

God Paige wishes she could kiss her right there and then…

Paige literally had to shake her head off to focus back on her team, but just as she was about to shift her gaze.

their eyes locked across the court.

And Paige swore her heart beated so loud when Azzi gave her a wink.

They held their gazes for five seconds before Azzi broke it off, focusing on her teammate introduction.

Leaving Paige all red and grinning sheepishly like a teenage girl who just got acknowledged by her crush.

After the starting line was done being presented, they finally took their places on the court.

No more smiles and grins, both paige and Azzi were locked in.

Both of them wanted to win.

It didn’t matter if they were former teammates, best friends or girlfriends.

They were currently rivals on the court.

And that’s all they needed to know.

First Quarter

As soon as the buzzer blew indicating the jump ball to start, Paige grabbed the loose ball swiftly like she did it a million times before.

Dribbling slowly towards her side of the court while analyzing her teammates, who’s open and who’s not.

And what are the odds

Azzi was guarding her.

It hasn’t even been a minute and the person who guarded her first was Azzi Fudd, her former teammate, best friend and girlfriend.

Paige doesn’t know if this was a such smart idea since her girlfriend knew her and how she played in and out

If this was such a dumb idea cause paige knows her and how she played in and out.

“Oh this bout to be fun” paige mutters underneath her breath just enough for Azzi to hear.

“Bring it on Bueckers.” Azzi challengingly smirked.

Paige just raised her eyebrows amused, suddenly remembering how they used to call each other by their last names when they were rivals in high school.

“You said it Fudd” she grinned before she threw the ball almost half court straight to her teammate, Maddy Siegrest hands who was standing openly on the three point line.

Maddy jumped and threw the ball swiftly off her hands.

swish

one…

two…

three…

three seconds of pure dead silence throughout the whole arena before the public announcer shouted

“THREEEEEEE MADDY SIEGREST”

And the whole arena erupted with screams.

Azzi glanced at the ball that just fell through the basket before looking back at Paige.

Paige lifts both of her hands up nonchalantly while walking back for defense, eyes still locked with Azzi.

her eyes almost screaming either ‘what can I say, I’m just good like that’ or ‘you think your the only one who can shoot good?’ as she broke off contact with a smug on her lips

and Azzi swore she will remove that smug off her girlfriend’s ‘full of herself’ face.

which she didn’t know was gonna happen so quickly…

Cause the second she went to her position on the three point line, Veronica immediately assist her the ball.

And although Paige and her team has already anticipated this cause God forbid how many times paige has explained it to her team, that ever since Azzi got drafted.

About how they should never, I mean ever let Azzi open at the three point line or any line in general.

While her teammates listen in agony and say they understood her and she doesn’t have to say it over and over again.

But of course talking and doing is completely different.

Cause the second that ball landed on Azzi’s hands, dijonai knew she was too late to block it.

Swish

“THREEEEEEE AZZI FUDD” the PA announced as the arena boomed loudly.

Azzi didn’t have to look back at Paige cause she knew the blue eyes were already on her.

Dijonai looked at Paige with her eyes wide open while Paige shifts her gaze from her girlfriend to her teammate while mouthing a clear and obvious.

“What did I tell you.”

Q1 ended with 15-16 with Golden State Valkyries on the lead.

Second Quarter

Paige hates losing, and her team is currently behind by one point.

And that’s still losing.

So that’s why she decided to carry the second quarter after she kindly yet not so kindly huddled her group and reminded them why they needed to guard Azzi more tightly after she scored 9 points from the three point line alone in the first quarter.

The team finally realizing why she’s been saying this so much was clearly caught off guard by how quick and effortless Azzi does her jump shot and shooting storkes.

They were now on full court defense and subtly yet not so subtly guarding Azzi like their life depended on it.

And Azzi knew what was gonna happen.

Of course Paige wasn’t gonna let anyone shoot in-front of her face and gets away with it

Not even Azzi.

So when Paige scored eleven points alone in the second quarter, she knew she awakened the demon.

The Valkyries knew they needed to step up in defense.

With twenty seconds left in the second quarter and 15 seconds left on the shot clock.

Paige crossed midcourt like she owned it

Kate tried to reach in for the ball—bad move. Paige spun past her, the ball barely kissing the hardwood. Veronica stepped up, trying to get paige to pass the ball to anyone but her.

Anyone is better right now than to have Paige holding the ball.

A hesitation shown on vericona’s face, confusion on what paige might do next, a shift, then—boom Paige exploded forward, slicing through the lane like a blade.

The crowd held its breath.

With a smooth euro step as she neared the basket with two Valkyries towered upon her, both Temi and Kayla reading the room loud enough to block her before she shot.

But Azzi knew Paige better.

Azzi quickly yelled “GUARD ARIKE!” just as Paige rapidly made a bounce pass towards arike who was right behind Kayla before going for an easy open lay up.

The second quarter ended just like that.

The Valkyries took a second squatting and holding onto their knees as they took heavy breaths, while the crowd let out a deafening cheer.

Q2 ended with 32-26 with Dallas Wings on the lead.

HALFTIME

Third Quarter

Azzi was being guarded and blocked throughout the whole second quarter.

And for someone who is best known for her jump shot…

being block back to back wasn’t typically ideal.

Although she did a pretty good job in assists and rebounds on the second, the valkyries needed her to shoot.

She even overheard her coach thinking to bench her on the third if she keeps on not shooting

Azzi was furious.

She was not letting herself get benched.

She was also getting kinda pissed of at her girlfriend, cause part of this was her fault.

She was the one who told the her team to guard her more tightly.

‘Just wait until we get home’ Azzi glared annoyingly on the back of her girlfriend’s head, slightly pouting hoping the blonde will get her angry signal.

Which was denied cause Paige didn’t see her glaring.

Which made Azzi even more mad.

The third quarter started with both of the respective teams fired up.

And Azzi was not letting anyone blocking her this quarter.

She found every tiniest and possible chance to leave the person who was guarding her and shoot a quick swift motion shot.

Three’s? Two’s? Doesn’t matter, as long as the ball goes in the basket.

The valkyries and the wings go back to back in this quarter with Azzi endless shooting and Paige endless assists and unexpected ways to get the ball through the hoop.

Last minute in the third quarter.

Azzi was now up against Paige.

Paige was in her stance, low and locked, eyes never leaving Azzi’s.

The arena pulsed with noise, but in that moment, it all faded. Just the two of them— everything unsaid hanging in the space between.

Azzi dribbled once, twice, then crossed over sharp, the ball a blur.

Paige stayed with her, step for step, breath close enough to feel. But Azzi didn’t flinch, a smirk suddenly flickering on her lips as she saw a way, she stepped back—smooth, confident—and rose for the shot.

Paige’s hand was there, almost grazing her fingertips, but the ball arced high, perfect, effortless.

Swish

Azzi landed. Her gaze still on Paige, like the bucket was a message only she could read.

“I read that y’know” Paige muttered as she grabbed the ball that fell perfectly into her hands, eyes still on Azzi’s.

“I know” Azzi said nonetheless, giving paige a small dimpled smile before heading back for defense.

Paige furrowed her brows on confusion, what was azzi trying to play on her now.

Until she realized—

The second Paige was about to break eye contact with Azzi, Veronica stole the ball right out of her hands and went for a straight layup.

The buzzer rung

It can’t get anymore embarrassing than this.

Everybody is gonna troll her for being a simp now.

And Azzi? She couldn’t be more happier.

Q3 ended with 54-51 with Golden State Valkyries on the lead.

Last Quarter

The arena was soaring with anticipation while Paige was getting an earful words from her teammates over that last simpful turnover.

And Paige admitted it was her fault.

I mean it’s the Azzi Fudd affect.

Who wouldn’t fall for that?

But this was the last quarter so she had to be more locked in, she told herself that she could stare at Azzi all she wants after the game.

So she’ll just try her best not to on this one

Both teams were fired up.

Both teams were heavy on defense and went back to back on rebounds.

68-68

The crowd was holding their breaths

Thirty seconds left.

Azzi took the inbound, heart pounding, eyes scanning.

Paige was on her instantly—locked in, no room to breathe. But Azzi drove left, faked right, and pulled up at the elbow.

Paige quickly yelled “LYSS”

Mid-air, lyss lunged to contest—and clipped her arm.

Whistle.

The shot dropped anyway.

Two points. And-one.

The crowd went wild.

Azzi stepped to the free throw line, calm fire in her veins. One deep breath, one flick of the wrist—net.

Now up by three.

What a performance by Azzi Fudd.

The clock bled down to five seconds.

Paige got the ball near behind three, no time to think.

Azzi was there, shadowing her every step, but paige jabbed, stepped back, and let it fly from deep three.

Time froze.

The buzzer blared.

Swish

Tie game.

“OVERTIME.”

The arena exploded.

Fans jumped from their seats, some screaming, some lost of words, others just standing there stunned, hands in their hair like they couldn’t believe what just happened. It felt like the roof could rip off from the noise.

Paige smirked, turned and walked to the bench, eyes on Azzi. That shot wasn’t for the scoreboard.

It was for her.

Azzi stared at her girlfriend in disbelief, shocked and not shocked at the same time, “of course she would do that” Azzi scoffed but failing to hide her suppressed smile.

Q4 ended with 71-71 (tie)

OVERTIME — 5 mins

Tension wrapped the court like a storm cloud.

Fans stood.

No one was breathing.

Paige controlled the tempo, cool and deadly. She drove hard, eyes slicing through defenders, then zipped a behind-the-back pass to Lyss, who cut in from the baseline—layup, clean.

71-73

Azzi didn’t blink. She got the ball at the wing, Paige right there—too close, too personal. She jabbed, hesitated, then blew by her. One step, then another. Euro step through traffic.

Bucket.

Even Paige exhaled—just a little.

73-73

Next play. Paige crossed half court, defenders swarming. She faked left, sent the ball whipping to Arike on the right—pull-up jumper, nothing but net.

73-75

Back and forth. Azzi answered again, this time from the corner, hand in her face. Still good. Arike slapped the floor in frustration

75-75

A minute left. The crowd? Unhinged.

Paige slipped a bounce pass to Dijonai, who bulled through a defender for two.

75-77

Thirty seconds.

Kate got the rock, this time guarded tight by Lyss, Paige shading over. She faked a handoff to Azzi, then exploded off a screen, driving hard into the lane. Paige recovered quick, forcing her into a midair twist—but Kate spun and tossed a slick no-look pass to the cutting forward underneath. Layup.

Tie game.

77-77

Arike threw the ball a little too hard, it goes out of bounce.

Timeout.

Valkyries ball.

The dallas wings fans all fell down on their kness.

Paige crouched near the arc, adrenaline humming in her chest. She knew where it was going.

Everyone did.

Azzi got the inbound near half court.

Five.

Four.

She took one dribble, stepped into the shot.

From almost half court.

The entire arena inhaled.

The ball sailed up.

Hung.

Fell.

Swish

Buzzer.

The crowd erupted like an explosion of thunder and fireworks—people screaming, jumping, pouring onto their feet in disbelief. Azzi stood still, fists clenched, jaw tight—but her eyes found Paige across the court.

And Paige?

She was smiling. No anger. No ego. Just pure, wild joy in her chest as she jumped up and down, like she’d just watched art unfold in real time.

Not because her team lost.

But because Azzi hit that shot.

And somehow… that was enough.

And finally she let out a breath of relief and smiled.

FINISH

80-77 Golden State Valkyries Win.

P’s point of view

She should’ve been mad. Should’ve felt the sting of the loss burning her chest. But all Paige could think about was the way Azzi looked when she hit that shot—that calm, locked-in face she only made when she was doing something epic. Something beautiful.

Paige let her teammates pass her in the handshake line, their claps and “good game”

Because she knew.

Azzi would be the last one too.

Always saving the best for last.

Their eyes met.

No words.

Not yet.

She stepped forward.

A’s point of view

The win was electric, yeah. Her teammates were bouncing off the walls, chest bumps and chaos. But none of it hit quite the same.

Not until she looked across the court and saw Paige, standing there.

Waiting.

Azzi had known that shot was going in the second it left her fingers. But this moment?

This quiet walk toward the girl who knew every version of her—on the court, off the court, under the lights, and behind closed doors?

This was the part she felt in her chest.

She reached the end of the line, the noise behind her fading into nothing.

Paige met her there.

And for a moment, they just stared at each other.

Azzi extended her hand, a smirk teasing the corner of her lips. “good game, Bueckers.”

Paige took it—but tugged her gently forward until they were chest to chest, arms wrapping around each other in a hug that wasn’t for the crowd.

Wasn’t for the cameras.

It was theirs.

Paige leaned in, her lips brushing against the shell of Azzi’s ear.

“I saw you hit that shot,” she whispered.

“And all I could think was… God, she’s mine. I’m so proud of you.”

Azzi didn’t pull away right away. Her hand stayed pressed against Paige’s back, heart hammering under her palm.

“I knew you’d say that,” she murmured back. “That’s why I hit it.”

Enemies, officially.

But lovers?

Undeniably.

“You lost by the way” Azzi said in an obvious tone.

“Who cares, my girlfriend just got her career high and hit a half court buzzer beater” Paige scoffed.

“And I won’t lose the next by the way” she added chilly.

“Sure you won’t” Azzi roller her eyes.

“You know I’ll always be your number one fan Az” Paige whispered softly just for Azzi to hear.

“I know, me too P” Azzi closed her eyes, and hugged her tighter letting this moment linger a little bit longer.

Same team, different team, together or 1000 miles apart we gon ride till the wheels fall off.

- Paige Bueckers

#pazzi #paige bueckers #paige azzi fan fic #azzi fudd #paige x azzi #uconn wbb #uconn huskies #fluff #wnba #wbb

288 notes · View notes