When the final buzzer sounded on the Dallas Wings' first-round series, Paige Bueckers was left fighting back tears. But it was what she had poured into every possession before that moment that had so many fans in her corner. 

Dallas saw its season end Friday night in Golden State, falling 77-73 to the Valkyries in Game 3 after blowing a 16-point second-half lead. Bueckers, the 2025 first overall pick, struggled in the finale, finishing with 17 points on 4-of-14 shooting, along with six assists and one rebound. 

The emotion spilled over at the postgame press conference, where a red-eyed Bueckers was asked about the team's progress since last season. In a video uploaded by Jamie Lardis on X, Bueckers started to answer, then stopped to collect herself. 

"I think just our selfless nature and how much we enjoyed coming to work," Bueckers said, as seen in the video clip uploaded by Lardis on her X account, before pausing. 

Seated beside her, Arike Ogunbowale, who led Dallas with 30 points, rested a hand on her teammate's shoulder and said, "It's alright," as Bueckers then lowered her face into a towel on the table and cried for a short while. 

The turnaround speaks for itself. Dallas entered the playoffs as the No. 7 seed after a 27-17 campaign, a dramatic leap from the 10-34 finish in Bueckers' rookie year. And when clips of her postgame moment started circulating, fans had plenty to say. 

WNBA fans react to Paige Bueckers' reaction after playoff elimination 

In a clip Jamie Lardis uploaded to her X account, several fans took to the comments to share their feelings about Bueckers' emotional postgame moment. 

One fan captured the sentiment surrounding Bueckers’ emotional exit, offering a reminder of what she and the Wings had given throughout the playoffs.

"Tough ending for her, but that group gave it everything"

Another fan highlighted the qualities that have made Bueckers such a fan favorite, pointing to the passion she brings to every game.

"PB is the best.  Wears her heart on her sleeve no matter what she does.  Great gamer and this is only the beginning."

Another fan offered praise for Bueckers that went beyond what she brings to the court, pointing to the qualities that have endeared her to supporters.

"Paige is an excellent player and appears to be a genuinely nice human."

The disappointment was shared by another fan, who had hoped the Wings could keep their postseason run alive before turning attention to Bueckers.

"I thought they had it. Paige is a great player."  

Another fan admitted they were surprised to see Bueckers so visibly emotional, noting how unusual the moment was for the Wings star.

"Never seen Paige react like that before ever. Shes normally such a happy go lucky goofball."

Bueckers' tears may have marked the end of Dallas' season, but the response suggests they also reinforced what fans already felt about her. In the eyes of those watching, a first-round exit didn't erase the effort she poured in all year. 

Written by

Chionia Libania Colaco