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Paige Bueckers Receives Brittney Griner Comparison That Demands Explanation
Kevin Jairaj, Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Paige Bueckers Receives Brittney Griner Comparison That Demands Explanation

Originally posted on Athlon Sports  |  By Parker Johnson  |  Last updated Aug 3, 2025 8:56 AM ET

WNBA icon Brittney Griner was ejected from the Atlanta Dream's 88-85 win against Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings on Wednesday.

Griner, 34, received two technical fouls in short succession while arguing a call. The second, which sent her to the locker room early, was for making contact with an official.

In the Wings' next game against the Indiana Fever on Friday, Bueckers was caught on camera doing the exact same thing — perhaps even more obvious — and escaping any punishment for her actions.

The All-Star rookie understandably drew comparisons to Griner, and when you see the two incidents side-by-side, they are very hard to explain.

The Paige Bueckers Video That Demands an Explanation

During the frustrating loss to the Fever, who beat the Wings 88-78 without Caitlin Clark, Bueckers made clear contact with an official. The official appeared to acknowledge the contact and give Bueckers a warning, but she did not receive a technical foul.

For comparison, here is the incident involving Griner from the Wings vs. Dream game. She makes contact with the official for her second technical foul at the end of the clip.

By physically contacting an official, Bueckers should have received a technical foul, just like Griner did.

WNBA Rules and Fines for Technical Fouls

The WNBA rulebook includes several examples of "unsportsmanlike tactics" involving interactions with officials that may result in technical fouls, including:

  • Disrespectfully addressing an official
  • Physically contacting an official
  • Overt actions indicating resentment to a call

Additionally, the rulebook states that "cursing or blaspsheming an official shall not be considered the only cause for imposing technical fouls." However, "running tirades, continuous criticism or griping" can lead to a technical at the official's discretion.

A player's first three technical fouls in a season result in a $200 fine. The next three incur a $400 fine. When a player reaches the seventh technical foul, it results in an $800 fine and a one-game suspension. Every technical beyond the seventh receives the same $800 fine and one-game suspension.

WNBA Technical Foul Leaders: Where Bueckers, Griner, Clark and Reese Rank

After her double tech, Griner is up to three technical fouls during the 2025 WNBA season.

Bueckers' tally should have been doubled, but for now, she remains at one during her rookie campaign.

As of August 2, here are the WNBA leaders in technical fouls.

  • 7 — Angel Reese, Chicago Sky
  • 5 — Shakira Austin, Washington Mystics
  • 4 — Stephanie White, Indiana Fever (head coach)
  • 4 — Allisha Gray, Atlanta Dream
  • 3 — Griner, Kelsey Plum, Becky Hammon, Lynne Roberts, Natasha Cloud, Bria Hartley, Alyssa Thomas

18 players and coaches have received two technical fouls, including Caitlin Clark, who has only played in 13 games for the Fever.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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