The streak is over. After 30 straight games scoring in double figures, the longest by a guard to start a career in league history, Paige Bueckers’ dream run finally came to an end. Facing the league’s sixth-best defense, she was locked down as the Wings fell 90-81, marking their 29th loss of the season. After the game, coach Koclanes didn’t shy away from pointing out exactly why it happened.

Paige finished the game against the Valkyries with just 9 points on 3-of-12 shooting, one rebound, and 9 assists, not what fans are used to seeing from her. Since that big game against the Los Angeles Sparks, where she scored 44 points, the Dallas star has been in a rough patch, averaging only 10 points a game on 26.3% shooting and a -34 +/- in the past two games. Now, there’s a photo going viral on social media showing Paige Bueckers surrounded by four Golden State defenders. No wonder she struggled. You usually see this type of defense on a certain Golden State guard in the NBA, not in the W. The roles have reversed here. This is what happens when you are the first player in league history to score 44 points on 81% shooting: you get treated differently.

But, regardless of the performance, Koclanes didn’t hesitate to question the refs post-game who didn’t step in when they should have. “When she’s (Paige Bueckers) attacking the rim like that and she was, she was attacking the rim and playing in the paint downhill, you know, for her to only go to the free-throw line two times, something’s off there.”

For a team that scored 24 more points than the Valkyries inside the paint, the Wings got to the line just 14 times. And everyone knows how much Paige thrives in the midrange. She’s even gone on record saying, “Yeah, I think truly basketball has gotten away from it. It’s mostly layups and threes, so it’s really hard to guard. Teams don’t know how to counter it. I think it’s an advantage if you can score the mid-range. Obviously, you don’t want to settle or get into the rim, but being able to score in that middle area is important as well.”

So, it was a big surprise to see Paige head to the free-throw line just twice. And Koclanes showed his frustration during the game too, picking up a technical in the fourth quarter after Paige was wrongly called for a loose-ball foul. This growing sentiment among players and coaches that officials aren’t doing their job doesn’t set a good precedent. But it wasn’t just the officials Koclanes was unhappy with — he was also frustrated with his team for not stepping up while Paige struggled. “And you heard Myisha say it as well, right? Like, other people around just have to step up and make some shots, too.”

The Wings shot 41.3% from the field, but outside of debutant Amy Okonkwo and Haley Jones, no one managed to shoot over 50% tonight. Paige still found ways to create for her teammates, dishing out 9 assists, but the lack of depth in the Dallas roster– especially after trading away NaLyssa and DiJonai is becoming more and more obvious.

And it wouldn’t be wrong to say that Paige hasn’t had much help either. And, at times, that lack of support can be frustrating. Remember the game against the Sparks? She dropped 44 points, but her teammates combined for just 36, leading to an inevitable loss. Moments like that simply can’t keep happening if the Wings want to grow into a serious contender in the future.

But the game also featured a different storyline, one involving a return for a former Dallas player.

Paige Bueckers’ former teammate shines in her return

Twice this year, the Dallas Wings decided Kaila Charles wasn’t good enough to keep on their roster. But their loss turned out to be Golden State’s gain. The Valkyries picked up Charles right after the All-Star break when Kayla Thornton was ruled out for the season.

On Sunday, she delivered her best game of the season, locking up her former teammate and Rookie of the Year candidate Paige Bueckers while matching her career-high of 16 points in a 90-81 win over the Wings. That’s how you take revenge, you’d think. But Charles insists she has no hard feelings toward Dallas.

“I think it was a full circle moment,” Charles said after Sunday’s win. “I started the season here, and to be cut was sad, but it also gave me the opportunity to get film and get picked up by the (Valkyries). So even though it didn’t work out here like I wanted to, it gave me another opportunity where I fit in a little bit more.So it just shows that everything happens for a reason, and I’m really glad that I was able to win with my team and do well and help them.”

While Kaila was instrumental in holding Paige to just 9 points, Bueckers knows there will be plenty of chances ahead to set more records. At the end of the day, though, what she wants most is wins. This season hasn’t lived up to the team’s high expectations, and moving forward, Coach Koclanes will need to make some serious adjustments if he wants to keep his job. What are your thoughts on Dallas’ season so far? Share them in the comments below.