Dallas Wings Focused on ‘Next Progression’ After Golden State Valkyries’ Aggressive Coverages Against Paige Bueckers

Grant AfsethAugust 25, 2025August 25, 2025no comment

Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings, Golden State Valkyries, WNBA

Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images

Paige Bueckers has spent most of her rookie season putting defenses on their heels. But after her historic 44-point scoring display against the Los Angeles Sparks, opponents have doubled down on trying to slow her down. For the second game in a row, an entire game plan revolved around making her life difficult. After the Seattle Storm blitzed her on Friday, the Golden State Valkyries followed with their own relentless scheme on Sunday — and it worked.

Golden State succeeded. The Valkyries defeated Dallas 90-81 on Sunday at College Park Center, ending Bueckers’ streak of 30 consecutive double-digit scoring games to start her WNBA career. She finished with nine points on 3-of-12 shooting but added nine assists.

“We matched [Kaila Charles] up with her because Paige just had a 44-point game,” Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase said. “We all watched it. We all saw her. She is an elite scorer in this league, rookie or no rookie, that’s impressive what she’s been doing. Just her ability to do the step back, the floaters, the deep threes, we knew it was going to be a team effort, so we matched her up with [Charles]. But at the end of the day, too, it was team defense.

“Just credit to our whole team being locked in because she is not an easy cover,” she explained. “She demands a lot of attention. So again, just credit to the team, especially without fouling is huge.”

The Wings dropped to 9-29 in front of their eighth sellout of the season, while Golden State improved to 19-18, snapping a three-game skid to remain in seventh place in the playoff picture.

From Early Hole to Halftime Lead

Dallas rolled out a starting five of Grace Berger, Bueckers, Maddy Siegrist, Haley Jones, and Luisa Geiselsöder for the sixth time this season. Golden State jumped out quickly, opening with a Temi Fagbenle three and a 20-6 burst behind Charles’ seven points, three rebounds, and two assists. Dallas shot just 20% in the first quarter and trailed 23-12.

“I think we weren’t really good at the point of attack and doing our schemes the correct way, like we discussed,” Myisha Hines-Allen said. “Credit to them — we knew what they wanted to do. We were just unable, for a whole game, to take away what we wanted to take away, which was their three-point attempts and makes.”

The second quarter flipped the momentum. Hines-Allen and Amy Okonkwo scored Dallas’ first 11 points of the frame, sparking a 24-9 run. Okonkwo capped it with a drive and finish, sending the Wings into halftime ahead 38-36.

“Stops,” head coach Chris Koclanes said. “The bench brought energy, but ultimately we got stops and were able to play in flow.”

Handling Aggressive Coverages Against Paige Bueckers

For the second straight contest, the Wings faced a defensive scheme built to take the ball out of Bueckers’ hands. Seattle had blitzed her on Friday, and Golden State mirrored that approach with Charles face-guarding and help defenders collapsing on every drive.

The result forced Dallas into heavy ball movement. While Bueckers piled up nine assists, the Wings struggled to consistently hit the open looks that coverage created.

“That’s the next progression of our team,” Hines-Allen told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “We know Paige demands a lot of attention … so it’s on everyone else to step up and be confident. Amy came in and was amazing. If we had kept hitting those open looks throughout the game, it’s a different outcome.”

Siegrist said the Wings must make teams pay when those traps come, stressing that while Dallas has done well generating open looks, it has to finish possessions more consistently to punish defenses for selling out on Bueckers.

“We just gotta be able to capitalize a little bit better,” Siegrist told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “We did a much better job not turning the ball over in those situations, but we just gotta be able to hit some more shots and get them out of it a little bit quicker.”

Jones added that Dallas has to diversify its counters. She explained that while the Wings have had success with the short roll, opponents are adjusting, and the team needs more options.

“We could be better,” Jones told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “In the past, we’ve done really well rising out of the short roll, but teams are getting on that. We need a variety of options — maybe not always having Paige come off ball screens, but getting her touches in handoffs and different actions … When the ball sticks and she gets trapped, it’s about what we do next. We need to anticipate it and create more solutions.”

Those adjustments have been even harder to execute with Dallas’ roster so thinned by injuries. Four-time All-Star Arike Ogunbowale, Dallas’ top scoring option, is sidelined, leaving Bueckers without a proven backcourt partner to ease the load. Other complementary options who could have alleviated pressure are also out for the year — midseason pickup Li Yueru, rookie guard JJ Quinerly, and steady veteran Tyasha Harris, who played only five games before her season ended. With those relief options gone, defenses have increasingly tilted everything toward Bueckers.

Veronica Burton, Kaila Charles Spark Valkyries

Golden State regrouped after halftime, led by former Wing Veronica Burton. She scored 10 in the third quarter and keyed an 11-3 run that swung the game back in the Valkyries’ favor. She finished with 25 points, 13 assists, five rebounds, and four blocks — the first 25-10-5-4 line in WNBA history.

“Whatever we ask of [Burton], she executes,” Nakase said. “She’s probably one of the toughest players I’ve ever coached … she’s our heartbeat, but she’s also our leader.”

Charles complemented her defensive work with 16 points on 5-of-10 shooting. Burton praised her teammate for responding against the team that waived her in June.

“It’s a major testament to come back against the team that waived you and play 35 minutes and impact the game,” Burton said. “That is a big testament to who she is as a player but also a person.”

The Valkyries buried six threes in the fourth quarter, including three from Kate Martin, to put the game out of reach.

Dallas Wings Keep Perspective

Five Wings scored in double figures: Siegrist led with 16 points, Jones added 15, Hines-Allen had 15 and eight rebounds, Okonkwo chipped in 12, and Berger scored 11. Jones had 11 of her points in the fourth quarter, briefly cutting into Golden State’s lead with a pair of threes and strong drives.

Koclanes voiced frustration with the officiating, saying Bueckers’ physical drives should have resulted in more than two free throws. “It was extremely physical,” he said. “For her to only go to the free-throw line two times — something’s off there.”

Still, he emphasized accountability and identity.

“We’re not saying it’s okay to lose, but we do have standards and accountability,” Koclanes said. “We’ve got fantastic people in that locker room who stick together and want to get better.”

Hines-Allen added that perspective fuels her effort, noting her nephew’s recovery from cancer.

“My nephew just beat cancer — that’s the end of the world. Playing basketball isn’t. Tonight was for him. That’s why I keep perspective, show up smiling, and keep building.”

Dallas closes its three-game homestand Wednesday against the Connecticut Sun, while Golden State returns home for a weekend back-to-back.

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Grant Afseth

Senior Writer

Grant Afseth is a Senior Writer for DallasHoopsJournal.com, where he leads in-depth coverage of the Mavericks, Wings, and more. Between a focus on the latest news, closer looks at games, front office strategy, and more, Afseth provides objective coverage. Afseth contributes broader NBA coverage across platforms and has been cited in national outlets for his reporting and analysis. With nearly a decade of journalism experience, Afseth has covered the NBA and WNBA for multiple major outlets, including Athlon Sports, BallIsLife, Sportskeeda, and RG.org. He previously reported on the Indiana Pacers for CNHI’s Kokomo Tribune and the Mavericks for FanNation.

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