Paige Bueckers expressed frustration once again after the Dallas Wings fell to the Las Vegas Aces, continuing a string of disappointing losses. Despite the challenges, the rookie guard remains optimistic that the Wings can turn things around in the coming years. So far, this season has offered few highlights beyond individual player achievements and Bueckers’ potential bid for Rookie of the Year.
Following Sunday’s 106-87 defeat, Bueckers spoke openly about the team’s chemistry and cohesion. She and forward Maddy Siegrist contributed 18 and 23 points, respectively, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Aces, who have now won seven straight as the playoff race heats up.
For the former UConn star, coping with repeated losses is becoming increasingly difficult. While not a breaking point, Bueckers told Dallas Hoops Journal and other media that building a winning team starts from within.
“Just having different people step up in different ways,” Bueckers said. “Nobody can replace Arike, so everybody has to do a little bit more. It’s really been a team effort to try to make up for her absence.”
She didn’t shoulder the blame alone but emphasized that she expects growth and execution under pressure. Dallas (9-26) fell short, while the Aces (21-14) thrived, with Kierstan Bell and A’ja Wilson combining for 52 points.
“At the point of attack, we weren’t good enough,” Bueckers noted. “That led to scrambling. Kierstan Bell went 6-for-7 from three. We just need to be better in our screen coverages—switching, staying up, rather than coming off horizontal. They moved the ball too easily.”
Coach Chris Koclanes, meanwhile, focused on the positives amid the loss.
“Next-woman-up mentality. It’s a group effort—gang rebounding, boxing out, guards helping,” Koclanes said. “Offensively, we still tried to establish an inside-out presence against switches and exploit mismatches. Regardless of who’s missing, we have to keep playing inside-out.”
The Wings must quickly regroup as they face the Los Angeles Sparks on Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET, kicking off a six-game stretch over 11 days that takes the team through September 1. As the season winds down toward a likely non-playoff finish, the team continues its rebuilding journey.
For now, the question remains: how long until the Wings find their winning formula?
