Paige Bueckers made her long-awaited WNBA debut on a buzzing night in Arlington, stepping onto the court with high expectations and deafening support from the Dallas Wings faithful.
The rookie guard, whose collegiate fame had already made her a household name, quickly found her rhythm, scoring her first basket within minutes and finishing the first quarter with four points and a pair of rebounds.
But despite a strong opening stint, Bueckers and the Dallas Wings struggled to maintain momentum as the game progressed.
The Minnesota Lynx, led by Napheesa Collier, took full control in the second half, storming ahead with a 35-20 third-quarter explosion en route to a convincing 99-84 victory.
The defeat wasn’t just a wake-up call for Bueckers – it served as a broader warning for a Wings squad in transition under new head coach Chris Koclanes.
Fatigue, doubt, and execution gaps exposed
In his post-game remarks, Koclanes didn’t shy away from pointing out the team’s breakdown.
“I thought we showed some resolve and had a couple good responses there in the first half,” Koclanes said. “And then in the third, I don’t know. I did think maybe it was a little fatigue. We looked a little tired in a stretch.”
Koclanes emphasized that the team’s energy faded just as Minnesota began to pull away. The inability to counter that surge proved costly.
“Once they got a little bit of distance, you saw a seed of doubt and we couldn’t really recover from it,” he added. “The slippage just continued and we didn’t have enough to really get it back under control.”
While the rookie guard finished with 10 points, seven rebounds, and two assists, she also missed both of her three-point attempts and shot just 3-of-10 from the field.
The debut showcased her potential but also underscored the learning curve that awaits.
Still, Bueckers wasn’t alone in the effort. Arike Ogunbowale scored 16 points, DiJonai Carrington added 15, and Maddy Siegrist chipped in with 11 off the bench.
Siegrist, who missed part of last season due to finger surgery, earned particular praise from Koclanes.
“I thought Maddy was Maddy,” he said. “She just plays relentless all the time. You can expect full-out effort from her regardless of the score. She’s that energy we can all feed off of.”
Siegrist’s consistent impact has made her a foundational player for Dallas, and the organization is reportedly considering a contract extension to solidify her role beyond 2025.
GM Curt Miller recently said, “She is a big piece of the Wings‘ future, has worked hard at her game, and is poised to have an impressive year.”
For now, Koclanes and his team are looking ahead, one game at a time. “It’s a growth opportunity,” he noted. “It’s a learning moment for all of us. It’ll improve.”
The Wings, who haven’t captured a WNBA title since 2008 under their former identity as the Detroit Shock, are clearly still searching for the right mix of chemistry, endurance, and execution.
As Bueckers adjusts to the professional level, and as Koclanes works to reshape the culture, the team’s resilience will be tested early and often.
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