As Paige Bueckers pulled up from the free-throw line and knocked down a jumper with simply over 4 minutes to play, there was a quiet sense of arrival. The Dallas Wings had been in one other late-game battle — however this time, Bueckers was the one steadying the second.
The rookie guard from UConn scored 20 factors and added 4 rebounds, two assists and 4 steals in Tuesday night time’s 80–71 win over the Golden State Valkyries at Faculty Park Heart. It was the Wings’ first residence win of the season and marked a breakthrough after weeks of frustration.
“It’s been a very long time coming,” Bueckers mentioned. “It felt good. Our final one was in the course of the preseason sport. However we stayed the course. Our final sport actually damage as a result of we had the lead for almost all of the sport and it got here all the way down to it within the fourth quarter. So I believe this was a rising second for us.”
Bueckers performed all 40 minutes and scored six factors within the fourth quarter because the Wings closed on a ten–1 run. Her jumper gave Dallas a 73–70 lead with 4:06 remaining. They by no means trailed once more.
A Acquainted Face within the Crowd
Tuesday’s efficiency got here with an added layer of which means. Sitting courtside was UConn head coach Geno Auriemma, watching Bueckers as a professional for the primary time.
“It was cool,” Bueckers mentioned. “It’s positively weirder for him to be a spectator and a fan, I suppose, on the sport and courtside. However I may simply hear him at the back of my thoughts — all the beautiful issues he must say. So it was enjoyable. It was cool. I used to be glad to see him right here.”
The night time additionally provided a fast reunion with former UConn teammate Kaitlyn Chen, who signed with the Valkyries earlier within the week resulting from a number of EuroBasket-related absences.
Whereas Chen didn’t play, Bueckers had the prospect to attach along with her each earlier than and after the sport. The 2 had been a part of UConn’s 2025 nationwide championship group and shared a short on-court embrace postgame.
Composure within the Second
The Wings entered the night time on a seven-game dropping streak. In lots of these video games, they’d late leads or possibilities to shut. This time, they completed the job.
“I believe we did a very good job of making use of what we realized from the final sport and the final shut sport,” Bueckers mentioned. “I believe we had 4 fouls with like six minutes to go, and we did job of holding them out of the bonus and limiting their foul makes an attempt.”
Defensively, Dallas held Golden State to 1 level within the last 5:10. The group additionally recorded 14 offensive rebounds and took 15 extra pictures than the Valkyries.
Head coach Chris Koclanes referred to as it a step towards the identification he’s been pushing for — one rooted in effort, toughness and late-game execution.
“We’ve obtained to be taught to win,” Koclanes mentioned. “Robust sport in Vegas down the stretch, and I believe you noticed a distinct tenacity the final 5 minutes to essentially go and get it. Once more, it wasn’t fairly, it wasn’t good, however we went and we took it.”
Confidence Constructed By way of Work
Regardless of her regular scoring and management of the sport, Bueckers mentioned her confidence has come from staying grounded in preparation and belief.
“Confidence comes from the work you set in,” she mentioned. “It comes from my religion and the arrogance that my teaching employees has in me, that my teammates have in me — simply to go on the market and do what I do. And it’s a studying curve. I’m studying each single sport. There’s ups and downs, there’s bumps and bruises, however so long as you retain placing one foot in entrance of the opposite and simply hold pushing and hold working and hold sticking to what we all know — that’s the place you get your confidence from.”
Veteran ahead Myisha Hines-Allen mentioned the group needs to construct off the win, not deal with it as a one-off.
“We don’t wish to get complacent with this simply being our second win,” Hines-Allen mentioned. “We wish to hold constructing on this. We’ve obtained a troublesome Connecticut group developing. So we’re simply wanting towards that proper now.”
What’s Subsequent
Bueckers mentioned the house crowd, which responded loudly to each key cease and basket late, gave the group further power throughout crucial stretches.
“The best way the group supported us tonight… they only have caught with us by the wins and the losses,” she mentioned. “It means lots to get one right here, nevertheless it additionally simply signifies that we wish to hold constructing off of this.”
The Wings (2–11) will look to do exactly that once they journey to face the Connecticut Solar on Friday. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EDT at Mohegan Solar Enviornment.
