The Dallas Wings’ matchup with the Golden State Valkyries held no bearing on the standings, as the team had already been eliminated from playoff contention. Still, the loss was unusual for rookie Paige Bueckers, who had been accustomed to winning throughout her decorated college career at UConn.
Even though Bueckers remains the favorite for Rookie of the Year, the string of defeats has seemingly taken a toll, with the guard looking frustrated during the loss to the Valkyries.
Why Was Paige Bueckers Frustrated With the Officials?
Days after her career night against the Los Angeles Sparks, Bueckers had an off night shooting from the field. The Wings guard finished the game with nine points and nine assists, struggling to get going due to foul trouble.
Bueckers ended the game with five fouls and seemed displeased with the referees’ calls throughout the game.
WNBA refs have Paige Bueckers rethinking her career choice 😭 pic.twitter.com/ORLLpZnxb9
— BricksCenter (@BricksCenter) August 25, 2025
The UConn alum was frustrated with the physicality being allowed by the officials, something that has been an amplified point of discussion this season. While sharpshooter Caitlin Clark struggled last season with the roughness being allowed, Bueckers has had a similar experience in her rookie year.
This is not the first time officiating has been a point of discussion for Bueckers. Early in the season, she received a technical foul for a “clapping in the face” incident with an official, a call widely considered unusual and soft by many viewers and even surprising to some opposing players. Bueckers explained the situation after the game. “I clapped twice, and I said, ‘And one!’ and he said I clapped in his face. So, that’s all,” she said.
Wings coach Chris Koclanes has also expressed frustration with the officiating regarding Bueckers this season. In the postgame press conference after their game against the Valkyries, Koclanes publicly called out WNBA officials for not providing Bueckers the protection she deserved.
“How many times does she have to be on the ground for us to start protecting her and cleaning up the physicality?” Koclanes said. The Wings coach even received a technical foul during the game for protesting a no-call on a play where Bueckers was knocked down.
While complaints about officiating have been loud around the league, it remains to be seen how WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert plans to solve the issue. Protecting the league’s stars is crucial for the WNBA right now, as it is still a growing brand, and any major injuries to stars like Bueckers could severely hurt the league’s trajectory.
