A hostile road crowd found its usual targets before Game 3 of the first-round series between the Dallas Wings and Golden State Valkyries, with one notable exception.

The Chase Center crowd, nicknamed "Ballhalla" for its intensity, made its feelings clear once again as the Wings starters were introduced. Boos rolled in for nearly every name, but one player was spared entirely. Paige Bueckers heard cheers instead.

“Wings starters — except for Paige Bueckers — again booed by the Chase Center crowd. Arike Ogunbowale got some loud ones. Guessing fans didn’t like her 45-point performance in Game 2.”

Wings reporter Myah Taylor documented the reaction, posting video with a clear summary on X.

The pattern wasn't new. The same selective reaction had played out before Game 1, when Bueckers received a warmer welcome while her teammates absorbed the full brunt of the home crowd's hostility. By Game 3, with the series on the line, the difference had become much more visible.

Ogunbowale's treatment stood out as the most pointed. Two nights earlier, she'd exploded for a WNBA playoff-record 45 points, including the game-tying three that forced overtime and kept Dallas alive. Golden State fans clearly remembered, and the boos that greeted her name carried a mix of respect and resentment.

Bueckers, the 2025 No. 1 overall pick and Rookie of the Year, has developed a noticeably different relationship with opposing fan bases. Even in one of the league's loudest and most hostile environments, her name drew applause. 

The second-year guard has built a reputation for flashy plays, competitive fire, and a likable public presence that seems to travel well beyond her own fan base, and the Valkyries fans appeared willing to separate her from the rest of the Dallas roster.

Bueckers' reaction after the game.

After the final buzzer, Bueckers was visibly emotional, covering her face with a towel during the postgame press conference, as posted on X by The Hoop Central, while Ogunbowale sat beside her in support.  

Wings coach Jose Fernandez also defended his young star, stressing that the team wouldn't have gotten this far without her.

Bueckers scored 21 points on 9-of-10 shooting in the Game 1 blowout loss, then struggled offensively in Games 2 and 3 as Golden State's defense keyed in on her. In the decisive Game 3, she finished with 17 points on 3-of-14 shooting and went scoreless in the fourth quarter as Dallas blew a 16-point lead and fell 77-73. 

The selective booing highlighted an unusual dynamic. Home crowds typically target opposing stars across the board, yet Bueckers has repeatedly been treated as an exception. Whether it stems from her college fame, her on-court style, or simply how she carries herself, Chase Center's audience drew a noticeably clear line.

Do you think Bueckers' popularity with opposing fans will carry over as her career progresses, or is this specific to her current rookie-era appeal? 

Written by

Zaid Quraishi