Itās becoming more and more clear that Azzi was set up to fail.
I know a lot of people wanted her to go No. 1, and I did too, but I never thought Dallas was the right fit for her. A lot of the push for Dallas felt like it was driven by people wanting #Pazzi more than wanting what was actually best for Azziās career.
Yes, Paige and Azzi can be an incredible backcourt duo, but the reality is that Dallas is Paigeās team. Paige will always be the face of that franchise, which means Azzi will constantly be fighting for the spotlight instead of being given the opportunity to build one of her own. Thatās exactly why so many Azzi fans wanted her to land somewhere else.
Today just confirmed how a lot of people really view her. And if weāre being honest, many of the people defending this situation arenāt actually Azzi fans. Theyāre Paige fans first, #Pazzi fans second, and Azzi fans third.
Azzi has dealt with disrespect ever since she was drafted. Even the draft conversation often felt like it was more about Paige than about the actual No. 1 pick. Sheās been compared to Olivia nonstop, criticized for coming off the bench, and judged almost entirely by scoring, as if thatās the only measure of a playerās value.
The reality is that basketball is about much more than points. Azzi impacts the game in multiple ways, but those contributions are constantly overlooked.
If she ends up becoming the first No. 1 overall pick not to win Rookie of the Year or make the All-Star team, that says just as much about the situation she was drafted into as it does about anything else.
I truly believe Azzi would be receiving far more respect if she had been drafted by a different team. Instead, being in Dallas has fueled constant comparisons, unnecessary discourse, and the perception that sheāll always come second to Paige.
People can disagree, but thatās where I stand.
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