Latest news with #PaigeBueckers'
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Dallas Wings sensation Paige Bueckers scores 21 in homecoming to UConn country, leads team over Connecticut Sun
Paige Bueckers (via Getty Images) American basketball player Paige Bueckers had a victorious homecoming to her former stomping grounds Friday night, guiding the Dallas Wings to a cliffhanger 86-83 victory over the Connecticut Sun in Uncasville. The young player and former University of Connecticut Sun star had a phenomenal game, with 21 points and 7 assists, as Dallas recorded their first winning streak of the WNBA season. WNBA praises Paige Bueckers after stellar road performance In a game with momentum shifts, Paige Bueckers' calmness and offensive efficiency were on full display. The guard shot 7-of-16 from the field and added two rebounds, two steals, and a big three-pointer in 37 minutes. This brings the Dallas Wings to 3-11, with the Connecticut Sun, now at 2-11 at the bottom, continuing on its slide. Paige Bueckers' influence wasn't only experienced on the court—it reverberated on social media. Just a few minutes after the game, the WNBA's Instagram page commemorated her shining performance with an Instagram post: "Paige Bueckers loves playing in Connecticut 21 points in her first visit, now 21 PTS, 7 AST, 2 STL in her second win there... leading the Wings to their first win streak of the season!" Dallas Wings Postgame Interview: Paige Bueckers, Aziaha James & Coach Koclanes After Win vs. Sun The moment was indeed memorable. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Back in the state where she established a national reputation at UConn, Paige Bueckers showed leadership and confidence, the qualities that the struggling Dallas Wings really needed. Even with the Dallas Wings' dismal season, Paige Bueckers has been a steady bright spot. Her presence and judgment down the stretch were key to holding off the Connecticut Sun's late-fourth-quarter surge. Also read: 'That's My Girl' Caitlin Clark's moment hits different after Paige Bueckers' record-breaking return The Dallas Wings still have a long way to go. However, the Friday night game gave them a chance to surpass the Sun in the standings. It is now Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings on the road to CareFirst Arena to face the Washington Mystics (5-8) on Sunday. While the Wings are hardly in a playoff hunt, back-to-back wins have encouraged the fans. With Bueckers trending upward, the Dallas squad could well rewrite the script for their season shortly. Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Frederick: Can the 2025 Lynx be the 2014 Spurs? If so, look out
Minnesota opens its season Friday in Dallas against a foe who's incredibly familiar to local basketball fans. Paige Bueckers' arrival signals a new era of Dallas basketball after the Hopkins native was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in this spring's WNBA draft. Advertisement The Wings experienced one of many retoolings in the WNBA over the offseason. Indiana added a number of talented, veteran pieces around Caitlin Clark. Las Vegas brought Jewell Lloyd into the fold to replace Kelsey Plum. Atlanta bolstered its front court with the additions of Brittney Griner and Brionna Jones, while Phoenix added Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally. Yet even with all that, who did the majority of WNBA general managers select to win the 2025 title? The Lynx. Sixty percent of respondents to the survey selected Minnesota to reclaim the crown after finishing as a controversial runner-up last fall. The reasons are clear. Napheesa Collier is slowly cementing herself as the best player in the world, and was the choice of 67% of voting general managers to be named this season's MVP. Also: WNBA set for new season thanks to its stars Minnesota has incredible stability within its roster, with all five starters back from last year's team. The Lynx have Cheryl Reeve, who has a strong argument to be the best coach in women's basketball. Advertisement And, of course, motivation will be abundant. While losing in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals will always be painful, the manner in which Minnesota suffered defeat – with a questionable foul called at the end of regulation to allow the Liberty to force overtime – resulted in anger that could fuel the beast this summer. In 2013, the Spurs fell in Game 7 of the NBA Finals to Miami after a chaotic final 10 seconds in Game 6 prevented San Antonio from securing the championship. A year later, the Spurs delivered a dominant campaign, capped by a dismantling of the Heat in a Finals rematch to ultimately get San Antonio the title it felt it deserved the year prior. Can Minnesota write a similar story? The Lynx were a lovable collection that came together and played a beautiful brand of basketball in 2024. The Finals felt like a sour ending to another dream-like screenplay. But perhaps that wasn't the ending at all, but rather the adversity the protagonist must endure before ultimately emerging as the victor. Advertisement It sure sounds good, but there's so much basketball to be played between now and the postseason, the stage at which Minnesota could gain its true vengeance. Last year's team made the hard things look easy. It willfully shared the ball on offense and played with a defensive tenacity that's difficult to replicate. It's why last season was so special. Even with the same players, there will be a challenge to repeat the formula that led to such success in 2024. But if the Lynx can, 2025 could be a season to remember. Roster retooling is great, but stability is king in basketball. Perhaps another year of familiarity will only increase the chemistry that made Minnesota largely unstoppable last summer. If that's the case, the rest of the league could be in trouble. Advertisement Judging from the poll results, teams know it. Related Articles
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
WNBA power rankings: Liberty, Lynx jockey for top spot while Fever improve, Mystics surge
While the top-tier WNBA title contenders defended their positions in the season openers, one team shot up the rankings with an impressive first pair of games. The reigning champion New York Liberty received their rings and continued right where they left off with a 92-78 win over Las Vegas. The Minnesota Lynx spoiled Paige Bueckers' debut. And the Indiana Fever showcased their new roster in a dismantling of the visiting Chicago Sky, 93-58. In a refreshing stat for Fever faithful that likely won't last, they currently lead the league in defensive rating (67.4). In a standard stat, Caitlin Clark secured the season's first triple-double . Advertisement For as much as the contending tier has been discussed, the bottom tier is shaking out to be just as interesting through the first weekend. It's the group battling in the WNBA lottery ranks for the best draft odds, jockeying for position amid another strong class headlined by UCLA center Lauren Betts and a pack of guards: TCU's Olivia Miles, UConn's Azzi Fudd, South Carolina's Ta'Niya Latson and LSU's Fla'jaue Johnson. (The WNBA draft lottery is based on the results from the past two seasons, so tanking isn't as clear-cut.) In a way-too-early assessment of the playoff field, Washington could slide into a spot. Considering the lack of expectations surrounding their season, the Mystics' start is the most impressive. The least experienced team in the league is 2-0 and scored at least 90 points in each contest, shooting better than 50% in wins over the Dream and Sun. The front office is committed to rebuilding through the draft and development; so far, that's well on its way. Brittany Sykes, a veteran guard often noticed more for her staunch defense, stepped into the lead offense role with 49 points and 12 assists over two games. She was aggressive to the basket to score 20 of those points at the line (20-of-25). In 58 games with Washington, her previous high in attempts was nine (four times in 2023). Advertisement Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron are playing beyond their rookie descriptor, starting and playing hefty minutes in both games. Iriafen became the 10th rookie in WNBA history to score at least 30 points with 18 rebounds in her first two games. Citron, who clinched the last-minute win over the Dream, is an evolving defensive menace moving up the Rookie of the Year watch list. And Shakira Austin, besieged by injuries the past two seasons, made her debut against the Sun — though she was ejected for drawing two technicals, including one from the bench. Her healthy return can lift Washington's ceiling, as could that of Aaliyah Edwards. It's far too early to overreact and lift their potential, but the Mystics are already taking care of necessary business. Every game matters in a short season, and winning the matchups with teams projected to finish in your tier is crucial. Those records can break ties, or mean the difference between a playoff berth and longshot lottery odds. If the young Mystics continue to develop upward, they don't need those picks anyway. Player of the Week: Napheesa Collier Collier averaged 28.5 points, five rebounds and 2.5 assists to help the Lynx go 2-0 to open the season. She made at least 55% of her field goal attempts in each game, including 2-for-3 from beyond the arc, and is perfect on nine field goals. Game to watch New York Liberty at Indiana Fever, Saturday at 1 p.m. ET on CBS: It's the first premier competition of the season for the Fever, and a potential Finals preview . The game is also a kickoff to a massive weekend in Indianapolis. Advertisement Yahoo Sports' WNBA Power Poll *Current record and previous week's ranking in parentheses 1. New York Liberty (1-0; No. 1) 2. Minnesota Lynx (2-0; No. 2) 3. Indiana Fever (1-0; No. 4) 4. Phoenix Mercury (1-0; No. 5) 5. Las Vegas Aces (0-1; No. 3) 6. Los Angeles Sparks (1-1; No. 7) 7. Seattle Storm (1-1; No. 6) 8. Dallas Wings (0-2; No. 10) 9. Chicago Sky (0-1; No. 8) 10. Washington Mystics (2-0; No. 13) 11. Atlanta Dream (0-1; No. 9) 12. Connecticut Sun (0-1; No. 12) 13. Golden State Valkyries (0-1; No. 11) AP WNBA Power Poll *Previous week's ranking in parentheses 1. Minnesota Lynx (2) 2. New York Liberty (1) 3. Indiana Fever (4) 4. Phoenix Mercury 6) 5. Las Vegas Aces (3) 6. Washington Mystics (11) 7. Los Angeles Sparks (8) 8. Seattle Storm (5) 9. Atlanta Dream (7) 10. Dallas Wings (10) 11. Chicago Sky (9) 12. Connecticut Sun (12) 13. Golden State Valkyries (13)
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lynx roar to 2-0 start by ruining Sparks' home opener in LA
The Minnesota Lynx roared to a 2-0 start with an 89-75 win over the Los Angeles Sparks Sunday night. It was their second straight role playing the spoiler to start the season, having marred Paige Bueckers' WNBA debut in the Dallas Wings' home opener on Friday and then doing the same to the Sparks in L.A. The Lynx led by one point at the half and then erupted in the second half, outscoring the Sparks 34-17 in the third quarter and 19-13 in the fourth. It's similar to how they dismantled Dallas with a big third quarter after a close first half in the season opener Minnesota was fueled by 23 points from MVP favorite Napheesa Collier. The 2024 MVP runner-up shot 10 of 18 from the floor, including 2 of 3 from three-point range. Courtney Williams, who scored 25 points in the season opener, stuffed the stat sheet with 13 points, 10 assists and 5 rebounds. Alanna Smith shot 7 of 10, including 4 of 7 from three, to finished second on the team with 18 points, and Bridge Carleton finished with 8 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals. Jessica Shepard also provided a double-double off the bench with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Minnesota gets to play its home opener next when they host Bueckers and Dallas on Wednesday at Target Center.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Paige Bueckers' dad held back tears during her WNBA debut in emotional interview
Dallas Wings rookie Paige Bueckers made her long-awaited WNBA debut Friday. The day started with some very cool things, like having her hometown, Hopkins, Minnesota, renamed Paige Bueckers, Minnesota for the day. (It was pretty neat. There was an official sign and everything.) Things got even better when she made her official WNBA debut with the Wings, and her dad was there to cheer her on. "I'm very proud of her, but also just happy for her. She's living out her childhood dream right now," Bob Bueckers said during the Wings' matchup against the Minnesota Lynx. Dad's voice quivered a bit, and he held back tears as he tried to explain what the day meant to his daughter and him. "I started crying during warmups," he admitted. "It's something she'd dreamt about her whole life." Here's the full video so you can see just how special the moment was to him. A proud dad moment 🥹Paige Bueckers' father gets emotional on-air during her debut!WNBA Tip-Off presented by @CarMax — WNBA (@WNBA) May 17, 2025 View this post on Instagram A post shared by espnW (@espnw) Cry any time you want, Mr. Bueckers. This article originally appeared on For The Win: Paige Bueckers' dad teared up during WNBA debut in emotional interview
