“She got the (midrange shot) perfected. It’s so clean, too. That middy is definitely huge, for sure.” This praise from Dallas Wings teammate Arike Ogunbowale wasn’t just a compliment. Leading the league in mid-range shots, Bueckers boasts an average of 2.7 shots at 46.9%FGP per game. In an era dominated by threes and drives, Bueckers carved her distinctive identity through a polished middy. While this earned her ample recognition and peer respect, the Wings continued to struggle with a 7-17 score. And last night was no different.

The Dallas Wings had a dominant start as they held the Golden State Valkyries to just 30 points in the first half. However, the Golden State Valkyries not only outran them in the second half, the new team even snatched the victory with an 86-76 at the Chase Center on Friday. While Valkyries HC was not expecting the momentum, she was appreciative of the locker room’s efforts to tackle an athlete like Paige Bueckers. After all, a 3-game losing streak and absence of Kayla Thornton were not an impressive look on paper.

However, Golden State Valkyries’ head coach, Natalie Nakase disclosed the key to silence a formidable force like Bueckers. She talked about her decision of replacing Cecilia Zandalasini in place of Kayla Thornton in the starting lineups. “What Chechi brings though is high high IQ. She studies the game plan really really well,” Nakase said in a post-game interview. “And when she does that, she also informs. Like I said, just as you guys make substitutions, make sure whoever subs in for you, you guys are reviewing and communicating with what the coverage is.”

Appreciating her Cecilia Zandalasini’s reads during the Wings game, Nakase revealed reasons behind the team’s 12-point edge over the opponents. Emphasizing on strong communication between the locker room, Nakase stressed that the team should keep each player, even the ones benched, in the loop before they replace the starters on the court. This move was exactly what helped the roster flourish against the Wings. Moreover, Zandalasini was guarding and setting screens against Paige Bueckers. Though still a rookie, it isn’t easy to tackle a player like Bueckers or create stops. But guess who was comfortably reading the plays and creating opportunities in the paint!

“And so, credit for Chechi for taking on the challenge. Paige is not an easy cover,” Nakase added. “I thought she contested a lot of her shots really well, kept her in front. Even had like a jump ball from one of her first possessions. So, just yeah, credit to Chechi taking on the challenge. And then I think overall too, we did a good job team defense“. While the head coach appreciated Zandalasini and the overall defence, she pointed out Bueckers’ solid display in the game. Nakase even confirmed that the rookie is a tough contender on the hardwood.

After all, Bueckers successfully converted her second 3-pointer against the Valkyries after JJ Quinerly chased a long offensive rebound during the Wings’ first possession of the third. This was followed by Bueckers receiving an errant pass by the opponent, Veronica Burton. What followed was Bueckers finding Ogunbowle open in transition for her third three-ball. And what happened next was enough to shock the Valkyries.

The Dallas pulled a 42-30 and forced Valkyries into a 42-second time-out in the second half. After all, the Paige Bueckers- Arike-Ogunbowale duo rallied the team through, added necessary backcourt depth and provided a couple of best punches in the W last night. The formidable duo has a capability to propel the team into a victories. Despite impressive offences, factors like fatigue, ball turns, and missed defences work against the team.

Paige Bueckers’ controversial statement goes viral

The Dallas Wings rookie, Paige Buecker, has been basking in the headlines recently. After her CBA Talks stint ended in a disappointing outcome, the 2025 Rookie of the Month went on to portray her charismatic skills on the floor. And emerged shining on the other side.

While her winning streak did not stop as the Wings successfully managed to overcome the Seattle Storm with an impressive 87-63 score under their belt, a light-hearted statement from Bueckers left fans fuming. The viral video was shared by national reporter Landon Bufort, who asked the guard about her potential future endorsements.

The clip features a thinking Bueckers who ultimately responds with, “Idk, I guess one in the future, I’d like to have a car dealership partnership, so I don’t have to pay for a car.” She even went on to add, “I’d also love to have a real estate partnership so I wouldn’t have to pay for a house. In every single deal, try to get the most out of it. So, you don’t have to pay for it.”

While the statement was spoken in jest, it did not sit well with fans and the WNBA Community. After all, despite boasting of the world’s largest economy, nearly 771,480 people suffer from homelessness in the country. According to the National Department of Housing and Urban Development, the 2024 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) estimated an 18% increase in homelessness from 2023.