‘We Gave Them Too Many Open Shots’: Paige Bueckers Scores 21 as Dallas Wings Fall to New York Liberty After Second Half Slide

The Dallas Wings fell 85-76 to the New York Liberty on Tuesday night at Barclays Center, unable to recover from a decisive third-quarter run that turned a tight game into a double-digit deficit. Despite Paige Bueckers‘ fourth consecutive 20-point game and Maddy Siegrist’s strong return from injury, defensive breakdowns and missed opportunities proved costly for Dallas.

Bueckers finished with 21 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and a steal, moving to No. 2 in franchise history for most 20-point games by a rookie with 13. Siegrist, playing in her first game since June 11, scored 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting in just 15 minutes off the bench.

While Dallas leaned on its young core, New York’s veteran presence dictated much of the night. Jonquel Jones recorded a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double, anchoring the Liberty in the paint and providing timely buckets during New York’s critical third-quarter surge. Emma Meesseman added 13 points, playing a pivotal role as both a scorer and facilitator, particularly in the high post, where she consistently exploited Dallas’ defensive rotations.

Stephanie Talbot gave the Liberty a major lift off the bench, scoring 13 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter, to seal the win. Leonie Fiebich set the tone early with 14 points, hitting 2-of-4 from three, while Natasha Cloud orchestrated the offense with six assists to go along with 12 points of her own.

Despite holding a rebounding advantage and showing stretches of sharp defensive execution, Dallas could not match New York’s efficiency from beyond the arc. The Liberty finished the game 12-of-24 from three-point range, with contributions spread across nearly every player in their rotation.

New York Liberty Strikes First as Dallas Wings Struggle to Find Rhythm

The Wings entered Tuesday’s matchup looking to replicate the energy and ball movement that fueled their earlier win over New York, but the Liberty came out with a heightened sense of urgency.

New York opened the game on a 9-0 run, capitalizing on back-to-back Dallas turnovers and punishing slow defensive rotations. Leonie Fiebich scored four quick points during the surge, while Meesseman’s three-pointer capped off the opening burst and forced the Wings into an early timeout.

The Liberty’s defensive game plan was evident from the outset—they switched on ball screens and trapped Wings guards high up on the perimeter, disrupting the flow of Dallas’ half-court sets. The Wings struggled to adjust, often getting forced into late-clock situations that resulted in contested jumpers.

“They switched a lot defensively early, and I thought we did a good job at times of exploiting mismatches, putting people on islands, and trying to get pieces of the paint and move the ball. But then I do think at times it stagnated us a little bit,” Wings head coach Chris Koclanes said.

Dallas tried to recalibrate by bringing Siegrist off the bench at the 6:06 mark. The move paid immediate dividends, as Siegrist’s interior presence provided a spark. She scored her first basket on a baseline cut, trimming the deficit to two points and momentarily settling Dallas’ offense. However, the Liberty quickly regained control, countering with a 19-8 run to close the quarter.

The Wings’ early offensive woes were compounded by their inability to string together consecutive stops. New York consistently found open looks through crisp ball movement, with Fiebich finishing the quarter with six points. The Liberty shot a blistering 61.5% from the field in the opening frame, often capitalizing on second-side actions after drawing multiple defenders into rotation.

The Wings’ shot selection was mixed. Ogunbowale led the team with five points during the frame, but much of the offense came in isolation-heavy possessions that lacked the ball movement and pace seen in recent games. Dallas shot just 36.8% from the field in the quarter, managing only three assists as the offense stalled against New York’s switching defense.

The early struggles weren’t just tactical—they were compounded by execution lapses. The Wings missed several point-blank opportunities at the rim and failed to convert in transition, allowing New York to dictate the game’s tempo.

Koclanes and the coaching staff leaned heavily on early substitutions, leaning on Grace Berger more than the usual option of starting point guard JJ Quinerly and reserve guard Aziaha James to stabilize the backcourt rotation. Berger led with a season-high 21 minutes. Meanwhile, Quinerly played six minutes despite the start, while James totaled 10. However, the Liberty’s ability to control the rhythm on both ends of the floor set the tone, as the Wings faced an uphill battle after trailing 24-15 at the end of the first.

“That was the feel. She got in, and I liked that on offense she was keeping it simple, moving the ball, and getting it where it needed to go,” Koclanes told DallasHoopsJournal.com about the decision to play Berger. “She had us organized. Defensively, she competes. She’s bigger and longer than you think, she’s physical, and she can stay in plays. I thought she did a really good job at times against Cloud, even on Sabrina, just staying straight up around the rim. She brought another fight and toughness that we needed.”

Dallas Wings Rally in the Second Quarter

Facing a 12-point deficit to start the second, the Wings delivered their most complete stretch of basketball on the night. The response wasn’t fueled by a single player, but by a collective commitment to the fundamentals — rebounding, spacing, and getting stops. Dallas outscored New York 20-13 in the period, chipping away at the lead possession by possession.

Siegrist continued to make her presence felt, adding five points in the quarter and providing a steady interior scoring option the Wings had sorely missed during her absence. Her ability to seal defenders in the paint and finish through contact gave Dallas a reliable outlet when New York’s perimeter defense tightened.

“I feel like it’s just relying on the preparation as a group and getting some practice days,” Siegrist said. “In the rehab with our medical staff, just knowing I was ready and that they’re going to put you in situations to succeed. I feel like that confidence comes from the preparation.”

Luisa Geiselsöder took over the glass, grabbing six rebounds in the period — four of them on the offensive end — as Dallas turned hustle plays into extra possessions. Her work on the boards allowed the Wings to dominate second-chance scoring, helping Dallas carve out a 23-16 rebounding edge by halftime.

“We did a good job on the boards, on both sides,” Koclanes said. “Sixteen offensive rebounds is a lot. Now, we missed a lot of shots, so there were more opportunities, but we went ahead and got them.”

The bench unit, featuring Berger and Li Yueru, provided crucial stability during this stretch. Berger orchestrated the offense with poise, keeping the ball moving and ensuring the Wings avoided stagnation against New York’s switching defense. Yueru added key contests in the paint, preventing easy Liberty finishes on second-side actions.

“Grace is a great player. She deserves to be in the league,” Jones said. “She brings a lot of poise, gets to the rim, makes the right read, and her pull-up game is great.”

The Wings’ defensive rotations, which had broken down in the first quarter, sharpened significantly. They forced New York into contested jumpers, limiting the Liberty to just 5-of-19 shooting in the period. Dallas communicated more effectively on ball screens and recovered quicker when forced into rotations, holding New York to its lowest-scoring second quarter of the season.

“I also thought the ball moved. We’re playing a more selfless style of basketball and willing to kick it out,” Koclanes said. “We didn’t have the greatest shooting night. Lou and Li are shot makers and they struggled tonight. That’s the difference in the game right there. But the shots we generated were good looks.

This stretch also showcased the Wings’ resolve, an emphasis Koclanes has continued to drill into his players during tough stretches. Despite the early deficit and recent roster adjustments, the team stayed committed to the game plan and fought their way back into contention.

By halftime, Dallas had trimmed the once-double-digit deficit to just two points, trailing 37-35. It was a resilient push — built on effort and execution — that put the Wings back in position to strike.

New York Liberty Capitalizes on Dallas Wings’ Mistakes

Dallas briefly took the lead in the third quarter after Jones found Bueckers for a three-pointer to open the half. However, the Liberty responded emphatically. Cloud ignited a 17-6 run, going 4-of-5 from the field for nine points in the quarter, while orchestrating New York’s offense with precision.

Haley Jones acknowledged the team’s defensive breakdowns, specifically in ball-screen coverages and scramble situations.

“I think we just gave them too many open shots,” Jones told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “They’re a really good team, so when they have that many open threes and they’re hitting, they have the personnel to do that. I think JJ was hot in the first half, [Talbot] was like three-for-four, Fiebich—everybody was hitting from three. That was really just our lack of being solid in the ball screen actions, and it forced so many rotations on the backside. So yeah, I think that really led to them getting busy.”

Koclanes added that New York’s intensity level was a step above what Dallas had seen in their first meeting.

“They definitely came out harder with more of an edge. I think they were a little flat in Dallas and we kind of jumped them early,” Koclanes said. “They switched a lot defensively early, and I thought we did a good job at times of exploiting mismatches, putting people on islands, and trying to get pieces of the paint and move the ball. But then I do think at times it stagnated us a little bit.”

Unlike the second quarter, the Liberty punished every Wings mistake. New York shot 52.6% in the third (10-of-19) and hit 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. Meesseman and Jones combined for nine points, helping New York outscore Dallas 10-4 in the paint.

“They made their open threes, and we didn’t,” Koclanes said. “Anytime we had a mishap and it was an open three, it went in. All those back breakers were in, whereas we missed those open threes. That was the difference in the game.”

Bueckers added another seven points in the period, but the Wings were unable to close the gap, trailing by seven entering the final frame.

New York Liberty Bench Seals the Win as Dallas Wings’ Comeback Falls Short

The Liberty opened the fourth quarter without missing a field goal until the 5:07 mark. Talbot’s ten-point outburst off the bench proved decisive, as New York stretched their lead to 15 points.

Jones provided nine points in the period, but every Dallas push was met with a timely New York response. The Wings finished the night shooting 37.2% from the field and just 22.2% from three. New York, by contrast, went 12-of-24 from beyond the arc, with all but two players hitting a three-pointer. Dallas struggled to make shots, particularly in the frontcourt, as Geiselsöder and Yueru combined to shoot 3-of-18 overall. Recently, they had provided a balance of perimeter shooting and inside presence.

“We didn’t have the greatest shooting night,” Koclanes said. “Lou and Li are shot makers, and they struggled tonight. That’s the difference in the game right there. But the shots we generated were good looks.”

Beyond the frontcourt, Dallas overall struggled to shoot across many parts of the roster. Aside from Bueckers, the backcourt rotation struggled shooting the ball, too, with Ogunbowale finishing 3-of-12 from the floor, while Berger and James combined to go 3-of-11 total. Ogunbowale was the only Wings player to record multiple made shots from deep in this game.

“They made their open threes, and we didn’t. Anytime we had a mishap and it was an open three, it went in,” Koclanes said. “All those back breakers were in, whereas we missed those open threes. That was the difference in the game.”

With a rematch looming on Friday, Koclanes often emphasized the need for defensive focus and limiting breakdowns. Bueckers echoed that sentiment, focusing on how Dallas must respond in-game to the Liberty’s hot shooting.

“I think they shot the three-ball extremely well, and a lot of it was out of rotations, scrambles, and traps that we had on Sabrina,” Bueckers told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “We have to adjust in-game, knowing how well they’re shooting from three, trying to run them off the line, and get them more into the paint.”

Berger, who played a season-high 21 minutes, stressed the need for defensive accountability.

“Just simple things we can control—taking pride in guarding one-on-one so we don’t need help, don’t need rotations, and don’t ultimately give up open shots,” Berger said. “One mistake and they take advantage of it immediately.”

Maddy Siegrist’s Return a Bright Spot Amid the Loss

Amid a frustrating night for the Wings, Siegrist’s return offered a needed silver lining. Playing in her first game since June 11 after rehabbing a right knee injury, Siegrist provided an immediate impact off the bench. In just 15 minutes of action, she scored 13 points on an efficient 6-of-9 shooting, showcasing the kind of interior scoring punch the Wings have been missing during her absence.

From the moment she checked in midway through the first quarter, Siegrist’s energy was palpable. She notched her first basket within seconds of entering, cutting New York’s early lead down to two. For Siegrist, the game represented a culmination of weeks of meticulous preparation.

“It felt great to be out there,” Siegrist said. “It’s been a long process, so you’re really building up to the moment, and then to go in and try to help my team. Obviously, you want to come out with the win tonight, but just to get the first one under your belt feels great.”

Koclanes has long emphasized the importance of Siegrist’s motor and efficiency in half-court sets, particularly when the Wings need a stabilizing offensive presence. He credited her for bringing exactly that in her return.

“She’s going to be consistent with her motor,” Koclanes said. “In the half court, just a smart presence with the balance of spacing and cutting, and just efficient around the rim. Right when she gets touches around the rim, she’s going to put the ball in the hoop. So we’ve been missing that.”

Her return also provides a much-needed boost to a Wings rotation that has been in flux due to injuries and recent roster moves. With Diamond Miller also working to integrate into the lineup, Siegrist understands the challenge of building chemistry on the fly—but she embraces it.

“Anytime your team has people in and out for different reasons, whether it’s injuries or trades, you just have to focus on the group you have,” Siegrist said. “You can feel it—getting Paige, playing with Arike, so many of our young players—it’s definitely going in the right direction. Like coach said, it’s tough. I’m probably the least patient person in the world. You want to win today. But sometimes you just have to focus on the little moments, like ‘okay, we lost by 10, can we cut it? Can we win next time?’ It’s little things like that.”

Koclanes is excited about the long-term potential with Miller. With Myisha Hines-Allen ruled out due to an ankle injury, Miller played despite not having time to get in a full practice. She joined the team in New York and had just a shootaround to quickly learn and try to fit in on the fly. There will be time to build chemistry going forward during the stretch run of the season.

“I think number one is patience. She’s been with us for less than 48 hours, so it’s going to take time for all of us to get used to each other and figure out roles and responsibilities,” Koclanes said. “But I’m excited. She’s a fantastic athlete, has a great intensity about her, and wants to be really good. She brings a competitive edge that I think is really going to help us, both in that locker room and on the floor.”

With a rematch against the Liberty on Friday, Siegrist is already looking ahead, believing these games against a championship-level opponent will only sharpen the team’s resolve.

“Luckily, our next opponent is these guys,” Siegrist said. “Them shooting 50% from three—it’s tough to beat a team that good when they shoot like that. So that’s a small area we can focus on. Anytime you play the defending champions, it’s going to prepare you for the teams to come.”

Her return not only added immediate production but also reinforced the Wings’ long-term vision—one rooted in patience, internal development, and continuing to build with each possession.

Paige Bueckers Battles Through Injury

Midway through the third quarter, Bueckers grimaced as she grabbed at her lower back, immediately signaling for a substitution. She made her way to the sideline and spent several minutes on the stationary bike before heading to the locker room for further evaluation. At the time, Dallas was locked in a tight battle, and the sight of their leading scorer exiting the court caused concern across the Wings’ bench.

But Bueckers was back on the bench by the start of the fourth quarter, flashing a thumbs-up to assistant coach Nola Henry. Moments later, she re-entered the game, determined to finish what she started.

After the game, Bueckers provided an update on her status, maintaining her composure while acknowledging the discomfort.

“Yeah, I mean, I’m all right,” Bueckers said. “I just got it checked out. I think it’s just a cold muscle. I felt a strain, felt it tighten, so I’m just going to get it worked out, take some medicine, and go from there.”

She detailed when the injury flared up, noting it came unexpectedly during a routine possession.

“I think it was in the third quarter,” Bueckers said. “I was just dribbling the ball up and I felt a sort of tightness come along. It was pretty random.”

Despite the scare, Bueckers insisted her mindset remains on staying available for her team, while leaning on the Wings’ medical staff to navigate the situation.

“I’m hoping it won’t take me out,” she said. “I’ll get some treatment, get some rest, take some medicine. So I’m hoping it doesn’t take me out.”

Paige Bueckers’ Consistency Draws Praise

Even with her back tightening up, Bueckers continued to produce. Koclanes lauded her ability to adjust in real-time to how New York defended her, particularly in isolation sets after halftime.

“Confidence every time out there,” Koclanes told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “As she gets more comfortable, like today with New York switching, she was able to play a little one-on-one, create space, and get to her pull-up game. But with Paige, I appreciate that she’s going to allow things to come. She’s not going to force it. She moves the ball and makes the right play.”

Jones also credited Bueckers’ relentlessness and poise, pointing to how she continues to impact games even when facing adversity.

“I think she’s just relentless,” Jones told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “Even when her shot isn’t falling, she finds ways to score and just be Paige. Paige is amazing. She playmakes, she scores, and she continues to fight through a lot of physicality. She makes the right read every possession. But I think we can do a better job of helping her out, moving more, making things easier, so she doesn’t always have to fight through so much.”

For Bueckers, staying effective offensively isn’t just about hunting her own shot. She remains focused on balancing her scoring with keeping her teammates involved, something she emphasized postgame.

“I think it’s a mix of hunting mismatches, attacking off screens, and creating out of isolation, while also making sure my teammates stay in a rhythm,” Bueckers told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “We’re moving and changing sides of the ball, so I don’t get too ball-dominant. It’s about finding a balance between looking for my own shot and getting my teammates involved.

“They’re screening for me, getting me open, and allowing me the space to go to work,” she added. “It’s really a credit to my teammates and coaches for putting me in great positions. I’m just trying to feed off those opportunities

Despite the physical toll, Bueckers’ resilience was a key factor in keeping Dallas within striking distance through the final period.

Staying Committed to the Process

As the Wings continue to navigate a turbulent stretch of the season, Koclanes emphasized that the team’s foundation is built on day-to-day improvement, regardless of the standings. While the playoff picture has grown increasingly challenging, Koclanes pointed to the importance of maintaining focus on the controllable aspects—effort, execution, and team development.

“You just keep talking about the process and the bigger picture and the small incremental wins of where we can get better. It sucks, right? Nobody wants to lose games,” Koclanes said. “You go in the locker room and nobody in there is complacent or satisfied. But you have to continue to do your job every day and come to work with a growth mindset and optimism. It hasn’t been perfect throughout the season with all the ups and downs, but when your leaders are leading that way and by example, the rest of the group is on board as well. I’ve appreciated our commitment to this process, both on and off the floor.”

That mindset has been critical for a roster that has dealt with constant change. Injuries, trades, and lineup shuffles have forced players into evolving roles, but the group’s commitment to staying grounded has remained intact.

Siegrist, who has now been on both ends of the roster churn—from injury rehab to being reinserted midseason—acknowledged that this level of fluidity is part of the WNBA’s demanding structure.

“That’s not unusual in the WNBA. People go from team to team, get waived, picked up on seven-day contracts. It’s just the nature of the business,” Siegrist said. “Mentally, I know that, and just focus on being where my feet are. But I’m really happy here in Dallas. Great people.”

Koclanes has continuously stressed that building long-term habits is about more than results in the moment. Every possession, every adjustment, and every rotation is a teaching moment for a group still learning to gel.

For Siegrist, that perspective allows her to stay focused, even amid the inherent frustration of losing. “You want to win today,” she said earlier in the night. “But sometimes you just have to focus on the little moments—can we cut a deficit next time, can we close a gap?”

The Wings will carry that mentality into Friday’s rematch, aiming to build on the positive stretches while continuing to refine the details that have cost them in late-game scenarios.

Next Up

The Wings (8-22) will look to respond when they host the Liberty (19-10) on Friday night at College Park Center. For Siegrist, there’s no doubt the experience of playing the defending champions will sharpen the team moving forward.

“Luckily, our next opponent is these guys,” Siegrist said. “Them shooting 50% from three—it’s tough to beat a team that good when they shoot like that. So that’s a small area we can focus on. Anytime you play the defending champions, it’s going to prepare you for the teams to come.”

Friday’s tipoff between the Wings and Liberty is set for 6:30 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast nationally on ION.

More Dallas Wings News & WNBA Rumors

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