Paige Bueckers broke down in tears after the Dallas Wings lost 77-73 to the Golden State Valkyries in Game 3 of their first-round series Friday at Chase Center. The loss eliminated the No. 7 seed from the postseason after Dallas collapsed and blew a 16-point second-half lead. Bueckers had carried the team all year, especially after rookie star Azzi Fudd suffered a season-ending knee injury in August.
She had carried the team all year, especially after rookie star Azzi Fudd suffered a season-ending knee injury in August. However, the two-time WNBA All-Star struggled to find her rhythm from the floor, shooting just 3-of-14 in the deciding game and going completely scoreless in the fourth quarter.
Jun 20, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) celebrates after she is fouled on a basket during the fourth quarter against the Chicago Sky at College Park Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Despite the shooting slump, she finished the night with 17 points, six assists, two steals, and two blocks while going a perfect 10-of-10 at the free-throw line. In the post-game presser, a reporter asked her to reflect on how the Wings completed the best single-season turnaround in WNBA history, improving from a 10-34 record last season to 27-17 this year.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
“I think just our selfless nature and how much we enjoyed coming to work,” Bueckers answered before pulling the towel over her face as teammate Arike Ogunbowale comforted her, who led Dallas with 30 points.
Bueckers, the top pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft and the reigning Rookie of the Year, made her playoff debut following a difficult 10-34 season for the franchise last year. Under first-year coach Jose Fernandez, Dallas completely transformed, winning a franchise-record 27 games to secure its first postseason appearance since 2023.
The emotional clip went viral as fans rallied online to support the young star.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
One fan wrote, “She really is a sweetheart & I love her game.”
Another added, “I feel for Paige as she’s moved to tears… it’s easy to forget the human side.”
A third fan claimed, “She did so well and shouldn’t beat herself up for it.”
The fourth noted, “She cared, that’s more you can say about a lot of basketball players.”
A fifth said, “I love this she going to be even better… She’s going to be a monster next season.”
Her recent shooting slump also led to some online criticism, but Fernandez addressed the critique directly after the loss. “We only get to this point because of Paige,” Fernandez said. “She’s a first-team All-WNBA player. She takes ownership in carrying the load. The great ones do.”
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
He noted that she was taking the playoff exit hard, but emphasized that the recent series does not diminish the remarkable season she had for the team.
