The Dallas Wings have quietly built one of the most reliable comeback engines in the WNBA this season, but their star guard isn't interested in celebrating that reputation.

For Paige Bueckers, needing to rescue games late says more about missed opportunities earlier than it does about resilience.

"It's a bad habit for me and the team. If you watch a lot of our games, we're trailing at the end of the third, and we're starting off slow in the second half," Paige Bueckers said in an interview with Hoops 360. "And we have to find a will to win in the fourth. And I hate that about us."

Speaking to Hoops 360 about the recurring pattern in Dallas's games, Bueckers's frustration comes from something real this season. The Wings have needed eight fourth-quarter comebacks to stay competitive, a number tied for the most in the league alongside the Washington Mystics, and Bueckers has been the engine behind most of them.

Her numbers make it evident why she’s been the solution instead of being part of the problem. Bueckers is the leading scorer in the WNBA for fourth-quarter points per game at 138, having scored 60.6 percent in the final period.

This late-game output makes her stand out compared to her own earlier performances in the quarters.

Her average scoring from the first quarter is 4.6 points with 47.8 percent shooting, 4.7 points with 51.8 percent in the second quarter, and 5.0 points with 46.2 percent in the third quarter before her performance peaks in the fourth quarter.

Bueckers would like to see that consistency earlier, as opposed to only when they're trying to close the gap.

The team is fourth in the WNBA right now, with a 16-8 record after a five-game win streak, which was largely based on the late game play she mentioned needs changing.

This late game play is going to get some scrutiny very soon, especially since they'll be playing in front of their own fans.

Wings Return Home Riding Their Longest Streak Since 2023

This marks the first time Dallas plays in Arlington since June 28, and it's been a long wait. They play host to the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday after their initially scheduled game on Thursday against the New York Liberty had to be moved to Monday because of a problem with the New York team's plane.

Dallas arrives with a record of 16-8, their best start to any season in a decade, and the Sparks have been struggling with a record of 10-13, among the weakest in the Western Conference.

The Wings have gone two weeks on the road with no losses, finishing the streak with a win against Chicago in front of 13,236 fans in their fifth consecutive win.

Two more home dates remain at the American Airlines Center this season, including an August 20 showdown against Caitlin Clark and Indiana.

With 20 games left and Dallas holding the fourth playoff spot, every win now carries extra weight in a race where the top eight teams advance.

Do you think the Wings can keep this streak alive back home in Arlington? Comment down and let us know.

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Written by

Utsav Gupta

Edited by

Utsav Gupta