Dallas Wings head coach Chris Koclanes expressed frustration with the way rookie star Paige Bueckers was officiated in Sunday’s loss.
The Wings dropped to 9-29 on the season after falling 90-81 to the Golden State Valkyries on August 24, extending their losing streak to five games and marking their 10th defeat in the last 11 outings.
It was another difficult night for Bueckers, who managed just 9 points on 3-of-12 shooting but added 9 assists. The frontrunner for 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year has totaled only 20 points in her last two games following her 44-point explosion against the Los Angeles Sparks on August 20.
Earlier this month, Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham criticized officials for favoring Bueckers, saying referees gave her “every whistle” and calling the inconsistency “annoying.”
While Koclanes did not echo Cunningham’s exact words, his postgame remarks suggested agreement on the inconsistency of the officiating when it came to Bueckers.
Chris Koclanes Sounds Off on WNBA Referees Regarding Paige Bueckers
When asked how Paige Bueckers was managing her frustration with the officiating, Dallas Wings coach Chris Koclanes pointed directly to what he felt was a lack of calls. “She was attacking the rim and playing downhill in the paint. For her to only go to the free-throw line twice, something is off there. I don’t agree with that,” Koclanes said, via Melissa Triebwasser on X.
He went on to highlight the physicality Bueckers faced. “It’s physical, the whistle isn’t going our way, and I see [Paige] just get run over. She’s boxing out and getting absolutely run over and thrown to the ground. How many times does she have to end up on the floor before we start protecting her and cleaning up the physicality?”
Koclanes stressed the importance of standing behind his players: “You’ve got to step in and support your players and make sure they know you have their back.”
Despite widespread criticism this season—many questioning if Koclanes is in over his head as a head coach—he has been consistent in defending his roster. That loyalty is commendable, but ultimately, results define coaching success, and the Wings’ ongoing struggles have only amplified the pressure surrounding him in 2025.
