Life in the WNBA appears like a slog, a battle between evenly matched teams. Franchises will not emerge from the season unscathed, and down moments serve as causation.
With jockeying for playoff spots seemingly beginning in June, every game matters. Fans can sense it too. Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers sent a direct message to fans.
Dallas Wings G Paige Bueckers Chides Team’s Performance in Blowout Win
Normally, winning is winning, whether by 1 or 100; having more points is the goal. However, Bueckers believes that style points matter occasionally, even in victory, when it comes to her performance. After Monday’s 79-56 win to the Seattle Storm, Bueckers did not mince words about the overall performance.
“Sometimes you gotta win ugly, like tonight, I feel bad for the people who are watching; they should get all their money back.”
Despite winning by 23, Dallas shot just 36% from the field. Meanwhile, the Storm connected on 33% of their shots. Additionally, the teams combined to make 20.9% of their three-point attempts. Worse, the game was marred by turnovers and fouls.
Dallas and Seattle paired up for 28 turnovers and 37 fouls. Perhaps the stat that illustrated the game’s aesthetic flaws was the six total fast-break points across the contests. In essence, Dallas and Seattle combined to foul, turn the ball over, miss shots, and struggle in transition.
Bueckers led all Wings with 10 points, dishing out seven assists and pulling down nine rebounds, while shooting 33% from the field. Normally, she averages 18.3 points, 5.3 assists, and 3.7 rebounds.
The Wings remain one of the WNBA’s better teams. With a 6-3 record, they sit in the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference. The six wins show tremendous improvement. The Wings won just ten games all of last season. Now, they appear to be one of the toughest challenges in the league.
In contrast, the Storm has not started well, posting a 3-7 record after ten games. That record runs counter to what the franchise has achieved during its WNBA tenure. During their 26 seasons leading into this one, Seattle only missed the playoffs six times, while making the playoffs in five of the last six seasons.
Right now, the team is led by 20-year-old center Dominique Malonga, who paces the team with 16 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.
The Wings will hit the road for the next two games, visiting the Los Angeles Sparks and Minnesota Lynx before returning home to face the Phoenix Mercury. Meanwhile, the Storm will host the Mercury tonight and head out for a two-game road trip against the Lynx and Las Vegas Aces.
