How much more can Paige do for the Dallas Wings? Bueckers put up a generational performance in her return from illness as the Wings fell once again, this time to the Phoenix Mercury. An 80-93 loss further mounts the pressure on Chris Koclanes as they are still searching for their second win of the season.Bueckers showed no signs of rust after a four-match break, dominating the court with a game-high 35 points and 4 assists while shooting an impressive 13-of-19 from the field and 5-of-7 from beyond the arc. Despite her stellar performance, the effort proved futile as she received little support from her teammates. The rest of the Wings combined went 16 of 48 (33%) from the field. Following the loss, Wings center Luisa Geiselsöder didn’t hold back, delivering sharp criticism of the team’s overall performance.Geiselsöder said in the post-match conference, “I think we started pretty good, we had a good first quarter, um, but then I think like I don’t know, like our defense needs to be more aggressive, needs to be tougher. We had our game plan, we didn’t really stick to it, um, this needs to be better, that’s discipline.”The Wings currently hold the third-worst defensive rating in the league, allowing 109.3 points per 100 possessions. Despite trailing the Mercury by just one point at the end of the first quarter, Dallas seemed poised to make a push. However, the momentum quickly faded. They managed only 16 points in the second quarter, while Phoenix pulled ahead with 21. Costly turnovers in the middle of the court repeatedly exposed their defense, leading to easy transition baskets. In total, the Wings gave up 16 points off turnovers, a statistic that ultimately underlined their inability to stay composed under pressure.Against the Chicago Sky last week, the Dallas Wings’ offense faltered in the final two minutes, going completely scoreless and ultimately falling to a team that had yet to register a win this season. A similar collapse occurred against the Seattle Storm, who mounted a late rally to snatch victory. These late-game breakdowns have become a troubling pattern as opponents continue to take control during crucial stretches without much resistance. The repeated lapses have led to calls from Geiselsöder to be more disciplined. They can’t afford defensive lapses like these, and considering Koclanes is a defensive specialist, it is all the more concerning. Before becoming a head coach in Dallas, he had been defensive coordinator at the Connecticut Sun and the Los Angeles Sparks, so the expectation coming into the season was that the defense would be airtight, and they would struggle in the attack but that has not been the case as Geiselsöder critiqued the team going forward. She further said, “And then in offense, it’s just like playing with the flow, moving the ball,l um, which I think we’re getting better at, I mean, it’s helping that P is back, um but I think there is there’s room to improve for sure. Um, and it’s just like really getting over this hump like we’re always close but then we go back down.”Bueckers coming back certainly helped their attack, and she was playing at full strength. Arike Ogunbowale, who is the other cornerstone of their attack, had a bad day, continuing her patchy form. Arike scored 10 points and assisted 4 while shooting 20% from the field and 0/4 from outside the arc. Her points tally is well below her average this season of 15.7 points per game. As we discussed in the preview of this game, she has a hot hand in one game while going silent in others. If Ogunbowale had scored with more efficiency, Dallas could have had a chance in this game. May 19, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) looks on during the second half against the Seattle Storm at College Park Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn ImagesThe Wings finished the game with just 16 assists, falling below their season average of 18. It was a disappointing figure considering the offensive potential this roster should be delivering. Paige Bueckers, who carried the scoring load, was often forced to create her own shots due to the absence of another reliable playmaker. Without a secondary creator to share the load or facilitate ball movement, Bueckers had limited opportunities to play off others. This ultimately limited the team’s offensive versatility and made them easier to defend. The Wings need to improve their ball movement to distribute the scoring responsibilities more evenly across the roster. Right now, it often comes down to either Arike Ogunbowale or Paige Bueckers carrying the scoring load, while the rest of the team struggles to get consistent opportunities. For the offense to reach its full potential, more players need to be actively involved in creating and finishing plays.Paige Bueckers nears Caitlin Clark record, earns praise from Phoenix VeteransPaige Bueckers’ standout performance etched her name into the Dallas history books, becoming just the fourth rookie in franchise history to score 30 or more points in a single game. The last to do so was Arike Ogunbowale in 2019. Beyond the team milestone, Bueckers is now on the verge of reaching a significant WNBA benchmark held by Caitlin Clark.Credits: ImagoLast season, Clark became the fastest player in league history to reach 100 points and 50 assists, achieving the feat in just 8 games. Bueckers has played seven games so far this season, amassing 123 points and 46 assists. With just four more assists in her next outing against the Las Vegas Aces tomorrow night, she will match Clark’s record as the quickest player to hit the 100-point, 50-assist mark in WNBA history. Following her impressive display and an amazing start to her WNBA career, Phoenix Mercury players lauded the rookie after the game. “We’ve seen her do it at UConn for so long,” Allysa Thomas said. “She’s been coming to Connecticut games for a minute or two. Just very calm out there, she just controls the game so well. Sky’s the limit for her.”Former Wings veteran Satou Sabally also had some nice words for Bueckers as she said, “We should’ve done better for sure, but she’s elite.”Paige Bueckers has been the lone bright spot in a difficult stretch for the Dallas Wings, consistently carrying the scoring load with little help. But even a talent of her caliber can’t win games on her own. When performances like hers aren’t enough to secure victories, it raises serious questions about the structure and depth of this Dallas squad. While she continues to shatter individual records, the main goal is to improve as a team. The team urgently needs another reliable contributor to step up and share the offensive burden if they hope to turn their season around.The post Dallas Wings Teammate Sends Aggressive 13-Second Locker Room Message After Paige Bueckers’ Concussion Return appeared first on EssentiallySports.