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Paige Bueckers' Exchange With Rhyne Howard Grabs Attention in Wings-Dream Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sahil Goswami | Last updated May 25, 2025 1:02 PM ET

The WNBA clash between the Atlanta Dream and Dallas Wings ended in an 83-75 victory for the Dream at the Gateway Center.

Atlanta extended their momentum with a strong third-quarter performance and held off a late Wings comeback to even their season record at 2-2.

Allisha Gray was the star, scoring 27 points and stuffing the stat sheet with five rebounds, six assists and three blocks.

Paige Bueckers, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, continued her steady start with 11 points, four rebounds, five assists and two steals in the loss.

She opened the game with a smooth step-back jumper, going toe-to-toe with Dream guard Rhyne Howard, who nailed a three-pointer early and finished with 9 points, seven rebounds and ten assists.

The two young stars shared a brief but warm postgame exchange.

After the final buzzer, Bueckers and Howard shook hands and chatted midcourt, a moment fans quickly latched onto, highlighting the respect between two of the league’s rising stars.

The @AtlantaDream take the W at home pic.twitter.com/oWUa5qC5pQ
— CBS Sports WNBA (@CBSSportsWNBA) May 24, 2025

Despite the Wings' 0-4 start, Bueckers is already turning heads. With her latest stat line, she became the fastest guard since Sue Bird to reach 50 career points and 25 assists.

Her performance caught the eye of her close friend and former UConn teammate, Azzi Fudd, who was in the stands cheering her on.

“It’s a moment of pride,” Fudd said. “To see her living out her dreams, it’s amazing.”

Fudd praised Bueckers' underrated defensive skills and playmaking. “She’s an incredible passer,” she said. “These last couple games…it’s going to be fun.”

.@UConnWBB member and NCAA Champion Azzi Fudd on seeing her teammate Paige Bueckers playing in the @WNBA pic.twitter.com/mGG24T1b9G
— CBS Sports WNBA (@CBSSportsWNBA) May 24, 2025