July 2, 2026, Hartford, Connecticut, USA: L-R Dallas Wings guards Azzi Fudd 35, Paige Bueckers 5, center Li Yueru 28 and forward Jessica Shepard 32 on the court during the game against the Connecticut Sun at PeoplesBank Arena. Hartford USA - ZUMAw109 20260702_fap_w109_075 Copyright: xDebbyxWongx
July 2, 2026, Hartford, Connecticut, USA: L-R Dallas Wings guards Azzi Fudd 35, Paige Bueckers 5, center Li Yueru 28 and forward Jessica Shepard 32 on the court during the game against the Connecticut Sun at PeoplesBank Arena. Hartford USA - ZUMAw109 20260702_fap_w109_075 Copyright: xDebbyxWongx
The Dallas Wings suffered a 13-point loss to the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday, Aug. 9. As the Wings suffered a third straight loss, Paige Bueckers addressed the spirit inside the team's locker room with a big message.
Dallas' loss puts them in a tough situation, as they currently rank 8th in the league this season. This was the Wings' 5th loss in the last six games, and Bueckers admitted the stretch has been tough for her and her teammates.
"I mean, this stretch has been tough. Losing is tough," Bueckers told reporters in the postgame interview. "People got stuff going on in their personal lives. At the end of the day, like life is bigger than basketball."
May 14, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) brings the ball up court against the Minnesota Lynx during the second half at College Park Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
May 14, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) brings the ball up court against the Minnesota Lynx during the second half at College Park Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Bueckers didn't mention personal struggles of any of her teammates.
This comes shortly after an impressive stretch from the Wings that put them 4th in the rankings. Currently, they are ranked 8th and face the possibility of missing the playoffs.
"We won six in a row. Everybody was over the moon. Everybody was feeling great. We're playing good individually, but you've got to embrace the hard as much as you embrace the good," Bueckers added in the postgame interview.
The Wings led by 21-23 after the first quarter. They lost in all three of the next quarters. Bueckers had a team-high 23 points along with 4 rebounds, 8 assists and 3 steals.
The loss exposed a big problem for the Wings that has persisted during their tough stretch.
The 3-point breakdown behind Dallas' skid
The Wings' 3-point defense has been crucial in how they have performed in the season. On Sunday, that was the biggest factor in their loss.
So far into the season, the Wings have a 2-5 record in games where the opponents make 10 or more 3-point shots in the game. In the previous game against the Golden State Valkyries, they allowed 12 of them.
On Sunday, the story got even worse. Minnesota Lynx's Kyla McBride made history. She hit the most 3-pointers in a WNBA game by an individual player. McBride alone put the Wings in the danger zone.
But it was way worse for Dallas. The Lynx made a total of 18 shots from beyond the arc.
If the Wings want to win, they have to improve their defense. They are ranked among the bottom five teams in defensive rating (107.8).
What do you think is the Wings' biggest issue? Let us know in the comments.
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Written by
Nandjee Ranjan
Edited by
Zaid Quraishi