Dallas Wings Golden State Valkyries WNBA

‘We Showed Fight and Resolve’: Paige Bueckers Breaks Rookie Scoring Record as Dallas Wings Fall to Golden State Valkyries

Grant AfsethSeptember 5, 2025October 21, 2025no comment

Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Paige Bueckers made history on Thursday night, but her latest milestone was overshadowed by another narrow defeat. The Dallas Wings saw a 13-point lead evaporate in the second half, falling 84-80 to the Golden State Valkyries at Chase Center. The loss clinched a playoff berth for the Valkyries while the Wings continued a season defined by growth more than results.

Bueckers scored 27 points and passed Arike Ogunbowale’s 2019 mark to become the franchise’s all-time rookie scoring leader, finishing the night with 650 points. That total is the fourth-highest by a WNBA rookie, behind only legends of the league.

Afterward, she made clear that the achievement felt less about personal glory than about what the Wings are building together.

“It’s really all about the team and the organization and how much they’ve embraced who I am — not just as a basketball player, but as a human,” Bueckers told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “That’s why I chose basketball: because it’s a team sport, and I get to share the floor with people I love and want to go to war with. However many points — if it’s zero, 15, 20 — I’m just happy to be out there with the team and to celebrate that together.”

Building Momentum

In the days leading up to the game, Bueckers said the team’s focus was on communication, staying connected defensively, and sustaining effort over a full 40 minutes. For much of the first half, Dallas managed to put that into practice.

The Wings sprinted out to a 10-0 lead with Siegrist scoring the team’s first five points. They didn’t commit a turnover in the first quarter, though Golden State stormed back with a 13-4 run to seize a three-point lead late in the frame. Siegrist paced Dallas with seven points in the opening period, while Jones chipped in five.

By the second quarter, the Wings had seized control again. Jones energized the team in her return to the Bay Area, scoring seven points on 3-of-5 shooting while also picking off three steals in the period. Bueckers, Siegrist, and Hines-Allen each added four as Dallas held Golden State to 25 percent shooting to build a 41-32 halftime lead.

For Jones, the moment was another reminder of how far she has come in a season that began with hardship contracts before she carved out a permanent place with Dallas.

“It’s been a rollercoaster year for me personally,” Jones said to DallasHoopsJournal.com. “I started with the Dream, then Phoenix, then came here on a hardship, and came back again. That’s just been my journey, and I’ve tried to take it day by day. I’m really appreciative to the Wings for taking me in and making me feel like family, even when I was just here on a hardship. Coach Chris and the whole staff have encouraged me to be myself, and playing with great players every night has been amazing. I’m really enjoying my time in Dallas.”

Head coach Chris Koclanes said the strong start came from Dallas’ attention to detail, particularly in limiting turnovers and emphasizing shot quality.

“We talk about it all the time — if you get more shots up, you give yourself a better chance,” Koclanes explained to DallasHoopsJournal.com. “Taking care of the ball, making simple decisions, not overdoing it. If we play games with under 10 turnovers, we’ll put ourselves in position to win.”

Paige Bueckers Breaks the Record

The third quarter marked a defining moment in franchise history. Just 41 seconds after the break, Bueckers knocked down a jumper to pass Ogunbowale’s rookie scoring record. Less than a minute later, she scored again to reach double figures and tie for third all-time among rookies in double-digit scoring games (33).

Dallas stretched its lead to 47-34 with another midrange shot by Bueckers at the 8:47 mark, their largest of the night. But Golden State surged back with a 14-6 run to close the period trailing just 62-58.

Bueckers said afterward that the game underscored the fine margins of competition in the WNBA.

“Sometimes in this league, it’s as simple as it’s a make-or-miss league,” Bueckers said to DallasHoopsJournal.com. “We felt like we were mostly locked in on the defensive end. They hit some really tough shots and made plays down the stretch. But we felt like we were in the game the entire time and were executing on both sides of the floor. Obviously within a 40-minute game there’s going to be slippage, but for the most part we were proud of what we did. We’ll go back and look at the film and see things that we need to clean up.”

Koclanes explained that her scoring came not just from talent but also from tactical adjustments.

“She lets the game come to her and does it in different ways,” Koclanes detailed to DallasHoopsJournal.com. “We used her as a screener to open up teammates, which later opened her up. We got her the ball in different spots to play one-on-one and read help. It’s a ball-screen league, so we tried to disguise actions to buy her another second to see and make plays. I’m happy for her as she continues to grow.”

A Fourth-Quarter Collapse

The final frame highlighted both Dallas’ progress and its lingering struggles to close games. Golden State opened on a 5-0 run to take its first lead since the opening minutes. The teams traded blows throughout the quarter, with four ties and seven lead changes in front of a raucous Chase Center crowd.

Dallas still led 74-72 with 3:22 left but went scoreless for more than three minutes. Golden State capitalized with a 7-0 run and then iced the game at the free-throw line.

Jones said the Wings executed plays well out of timeouts but admitted exhaustion crept in during the final stretch.

“We stayed locked in out of timeouts,” Jones said to DallasHoopsJournal.com. “At the end of the game we were exhausted, but it was good to see us not fall into mental fatigue.”

Siegrist pointed out that Dallas’ offense still produced the looks it wanted in the clutch, even if the shots didn’t fall.

“I thought we got a lot of great shots down the stretch, me included,” Siegrist told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “I think I got three or four really good looks in the last six minutes or so. Obviously it’d feel better if they went in, but just knowing that we were able to execute and get high-quality looks is encouraging.”

For Hines-Allen, the late drought was a reflection of tired legs rather than poor preparation.

“I thought we executed very well in the clutch,” Hines-Allen expressed to DallasHoopsJournal.com. “We got all the shots we wanted. From the board to the court, we executed exactly what the game plan was. It came down to small details. Defensively, offensively, I felt like we were getting the looks we wanted, but we just weren’t able to finish them. Credit to them for playing hard the whole way. For us, some of it is just tired legs — it’s been a long season. But I thought those were shots we normally make. They were in and out, but they were great looks.”

Bueckers added that the atmosphere raised the stakes, with the Valkyries fighting for a playoff spot in their inaugural season.

“It was an insane crowd at Chase Center, which made the atmosphere fun,” Bueckers said. “They were pushing for the playoffs, and we wanted to play spoiler. We didn’t get that tonight, but there’s still a lot to be proud of.”

Balanced Production

Even in defeat, Dallas showed balance across its starting unit. Bueckers led the way with 27 points on 11-of-20 shooting, adding six assists and four rebounds. Jones scored 18 while matching career bests in steals (3) and blocks (3) to go with seven assists and five boards. Siegrist finished with 16 points, including three made threes, while Hines-Allen notched her 20th career double-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists.

Hines-Allen said her teammate’s performance was no surprise.

“Just what we’ve seen all season — getting to her spots, being confident, and knocking them down,” Hines-Allen said to DallasHoopsJournal.com about Bueckers. “She doesn’t let teams hold her to what they think they can.”

She also praised Jones for her versatility in filling gaps across the floor.

“She makes it a lot easier — not just for me, but for everyone,” Hines-Allen told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “She has such a high IQ. She can pass, rebound, and defend. She just makes everyone’s job easier.”

For Koclanes, the most encouraging sign was the team’s willingness to share the ball, reflected in 21 assists on 30 made field goals.

“I love the balance and unselfishness,” Koclanes explained to DallasHoopsJournal.com. “It starts with Paige — she doesn’t take many bad shots and is quick to kick to an open teammate. The foundation is being laid, and the future’s bright. We’ve got a tremendous group of women staying together in that locker room.”

Golden State’s Push

Golden State countered with balance of its own, led by Janelle Salaün’s 19 points on 6-of-10 shooting. Veronica Burton and Carla Leite chipped in 15 each, with Leite dishing five assists and posting a game-best +28 plus-minus. Billings added 11 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks, while Iliana Rupert finished with 10 points and four assists.

Koclanes tipped his cap to the opponent, noting their identity and home-court advantage made the difference down the stretch.

“Credit to the Valkyries,” Koclanes said. “Natalie’s incredible and does a great job. For them to have the type of year they’ve had is remarkable. That’s their identity — they’re going to guard, and they’re going to shoot a ton of threes. Even though they only shoot 40 percent, they take so many that on good nights it’s higher than that. They’re gritty and tough, never out of a game, and this fan base gives them extra energy. But I’m really proud of our group too. We showed fight and resolve, with good execution down the stretch.”

Dallas shot 42.3 percent from the field, 20 percent from three (5-of-25), and 75 percent at the line (15-of-20). They had 21 assists on 30 field goals and only nine turnovers. They held advantages in points in the paint (36-32) and second-chance points (6-4).

Golden State shot 44.6 percent overall, 35 percent from deep (7-of-20), and 82.6 percent at the line (19-of-23). The Valkyries outrebounded Dallas 38-31, including a 10-8 edge on the offensive glass, and matched Dallas with 12 points off turnovers.

There were 11 lead changes and eight ties. Dallas’ largest lead was 13, while Golden State’s was five.

Looking Forward

Before the game, Koclanes outlined his three keys to victory: contain Burton in the ball screen, guard the arc, and limit Golden State to one-and-done possessions. He also said the late-season goal was to “play spoiler” while continuing to build a foundation for training camp.

“We’ve talked about embracing the energy and using it,” Koclanes said. “How cool and how lucky are we to go out and compete in this environment? And again, go play spoiler. We can do that. Our team is fired up, excited, and looking forward to the opportunity.”

Afterward, he said the way the Wings competed in a playoff atmosphere showed the strides they’ve made, even if the result didn’t swing their way.

“I thought we came in with the game plan and executed well,” Koclanes said to DallasHoopsJournal.com. “We made adjustments and tried to execute those too. Down the stretch, you couldn’t have asked for better execution to put ourselves in position. We did a lot of good things and put ourselves in position to win on the road in a tough environment. I’m proud of our fight.”

He added: “The future’s bright. Get on board if you’re not already. These women are incredible in what they do on and off the floor. I’m grateful to play a small part in this league. It’s only up from here.”

Bueckers echoed that optimism, saying the team left Chase Center with reasons to believe their foundation is being laid the right way.

“We talked about it in the locker room — we all hate losing, and it’s really tough to lose like this,” Bueckers said. “I feel like this was one of our best games of just putting things together. The ball moved really well, we played hard the entire time, and even with lapses, I’m proud of our fight. They were pushing for the playoffs, and we wanted to play spoiler. We didn’t get that tonight, but there’s still a lot to be proud of.”

Dallas (9-33) will finish its road schedule Sunday at Los Angeles before returning home to host Phoenix on Sept. 11. Golden State (23-18) improved to 14-7 at home in its inaugural season and secured its spot in the postseason.

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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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