The Dallas Wings showed fight but faded late in a 100-78 loss to the Atlanta Dream on Friday night at Gateway Center. For rookie guard Paige Bueckers, the outcome was another reminder of the process that comes with building through adversity, and her message afterward was clear.
Bueckers pointed to a famous moment from NBA superstar Stephen Curry‘s early career as inspiration. Before the Golden State Warriors became a championship-winning dynasty, Curry had urged fans to “stick with us” during the team’s struggles, a message Bueckers said she wanted to echo in Dallas.
“Just to stick with it,” Bueckers told reporters when asked what she wanted to tell fans and teammates after the defeat. “Whoever puts on a Wings jersey that night, that’s who we believe in. We don’t need exterior belief—we believe in each other. I remember Steph Curry, before the Warriors became the Warriors, tweeted, ‘Just stick with us.’ That’s the message.”
The rookie guard framed her outlook as more than a short-term rallying cry, pointing to the bigger picture of what Dallas is trying to build.
“I have an undying belief in what we’re building,” Bueckers said. “I know if we keep doing things the right way, the results will come. Same people who were in the gym during a nine-win season are the ones I want at the championship parade.”
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Wings head coach Chris Koclanes said hearing that from Bueckers carries weight. He emphasized that her words reflect how she approaches every day within the organization, not just what she says after a loss.
“Everything,” Koclanes said. “That’s genuine belief, not lip service. She pours into her teammates, believes in everyone in that locker room. It’s hard when things are tough not to crumble, but Paige and this group keep perspective. They don’t feel sorry for themselves—they maintain standards, hold each other accountable, and believe in the future.”
The Wings kept pace with the Dream through three quarters before Atlanta pulled away with a 29-11 fourth. Maddy Siegrist had a career-high 23 points on 10-of-17 shooting with five rebounds. Bueckers added 16 points and matched her career best with 10 assists, giving her a second points-assists double-double this season. She remains the only rookie to achieve the feat multiple times.
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Dallas was again shorthanded, dressing just eight players. Three reserves were added on hardship contracts within the past week, including Christyn Williams, who joined the roster Friday morning. Amy Okonkwo and Myisha Hines-Allen chipped in 11 points apiece.
The Dream (25-14) clinched a playoff berth with the victory, powered by Rhyne Howard’s 24 points and Allisha Gray’s 19. Atlanta shot 55.1% from the field and made 15 threes, while Dallas managed 45.2 percent overall but only five makes from deep.
The Wings (9-31) will continue their road trip on Monday against the Minnesota Lynx at Target Center on NBA TV.
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