The Paige Bueckers-led Dallas Wings entered Sunday to fight the Washington Mystics with an 8-23 record. The record clearly suggests the kind of challenges they’ve had to face this season. Losses are piling up one after another, but the Wings have rarely been out of contention in games.
The Wings have been a strong force, denying competition an easy chance to win over them. They’ve kept the scores close and forced competitive finishes. So, how are they doing that? Bueckers has an explanation.
Dallas Wings Are a Strong Force, Believes Paige Bueckers
Despite missing Friday’s game with a back injury, Bueckers returned to the lineup with optimism. Her focus is less on the numbers in the standings and more on the experience gained in tight contests. She sees value in the constant pressure situations the team has faced, viewing them as building blocks for the future.
“It’s encouraging… The optimism side of it,” Bueckers said before tip-off. “We’re not getting blown out, we’re competing in every single game… We’re getting reps in pressure situations of playing together. A lot of us have never been in these situations before in the W. It just obviously builds confidence, builds trust and builds just a continuity of knowing that we’re getting those reps.”
I asked Wings guard Paige Bueckers about how encouraging it is to see that the Wings are often competitive in games despite the team’s overall record.
“It’s encouraging… The optimism side of it. We’re not getting blown out, we’re competing in every single game… We’re getting…
— Joey Mistretta (@JoeyMistretta_) August 10, 2025
But while Bueckers holds this opinion, do others on her team agree with her?
Do Chris Koclanes and Myisha Hines-Allen Agree With Bueckers?
With the kind of record they’ve had so far, Wings head coach Chris Koclanes has faced scrutiny as well. All throughout the season, he’s been the center of attention on the team that’s on the losing end of things. But despite it all, he does share Bueckers’ assessment.
“The difference between winning and losing in this league is marginal… It’s a couple of possessions here and there that swing a game,” Koclanes noted. “Nine times out of 10, it has come, okay, two possessions, three possessions, scratching and clawing. And then you just kind of run out of steam because you work so hard to bring it that close… Now our growth area is to not dig those holes and to start stronger.”
Even veteran forward Myisha Hines-Allen agrees with HC Koclanes and Bueckers. “We’re in every game, we just gotta figure out how to close games or even how to start games better.”
The Wings are now 8-24, but the remainder of the season offers them more opportunities to bridge that narrow gap between being close and coming out on top.
