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'We Got Stagnant': Dallas Wings Rest Paige Bueckers, Struggle Late in Loss to Las Vegas Aces

Originally posted on Dallas Hoops Journal
By Grant Afseth | Last updated Jul 27, 2025 11:17 PM ET

In front of a sellout crowd hoping to see Paige Bueckers in action for the first time since the All-Star break, the Dallas Wings instead ruled out their star rookie for rest and struggled to recover in her absence.

Dallas fell 106–80 to the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday afternoon at College Park Center, moving to 7–19 on the season. The loss came as Bueckers sat for the first time due to load management, a precautionary move by the team amid one of the toughest stretches of their 2025 schedule.

“We’re being extremely cautious,” head coach Chris Koclanes said pregame. “Especially with these rookies coming off the long college season, you want to be smart. It’s all about health and safety first and foremost.”

Bueckers had played 34.6 minutes per game through her first 20 appearances — among the most in the WNBA — and logged 37 minutes in Friday’s road loss to Golden State. With five games in eight days on tap, the Wings chose to prioritize long-term availability over short-term production.

No Paige Bueckers, No Breakthrough

The Wings rotated nine players and turned to a reshuffled starting five of JJ Quinerly, Arike Ogunbowale, DiJonai Carrington, Luisa Geiselsöder, and Li Yueru. Carrington made her first start since June 13, while Haley Jones slid into a heavier playmaking role off the bench.

Despite a competitive opening quarter and a 30–16 advantage in paint scoring through the first half, Dallas couldn’t keep pace with Las Vegas over four quarters. The Aces used a 22–9 second-quarter run to create separation, then pulled away with a dominant 33-point fourth — the most the Wings have allowed in any final frame this season.

“We were moving the ball pretty well in the second quarter, and then we kind of got stagnant,” Jones said. “We just have to be better — especially on the glass and at the point of attack.”

Jones finished with a season-high 15 points, her fourth consecutive game in double figures, while Ogunbowale led the team with 18 points and four assists. Dallas shot just 38% from the floor and committed 12 turnovers that led to 26 Las Vegas points.

All five Aces starters scored in double figures, led by Jackie Young’s 24 points on 8-of-11 shooting. Jewell Loyd added 20 off the bench, and Las Vegas hit 10-of-24 from beyond the arc.

Teaira McCowan Shines in Limited Minutes

If there was a bright spot for Dallas, it came in the form of Teaira McCowan. The veteran center came off the bench and delivered her best outing of the season, recording a 12-point, 13-rebound double-double in just 17 minutes. Six of her boards came in the third quarter alone.

“I’m pretty proud of myself,” McCowan said postgame. “It’s what I do — it’s what I’ve been doing my whole entire career. So I just went out there and showcased it today.”

Koclanes echoed that praise. “She was ready when her number was called,” he said. “We were struggling on the boards, and she came in and helped with that. Got to the line, battled. But we’ve got to finish through contact — can’t rely on the whistle.”

McCowan’s production helped Dallas hang around briefly in the third, but the Wings couldn’t sustain momentum as the offense stagnated and Las Vegas extended the margin late.

Reset Coming Fast with Liberty Up Next

Dallas will have to quickly regroup, as it wraps up the back-to-back Monday night against the defending champion New York Liberty. Bueckers could return, and the Liberty will be without Breanna Stewart, offering the Wings a different challenge on ESPN’s national stage (7 p.m. CT).

“You really don’t have an option,” Jones said of the quick turnaround. “You just gotta turn around and go. It’s kind of nice — you can forget about this one and focus on tomorrow.”

Whether or not Bueckers is available, the Wings know they’ll need more consistency on both ends.

“We talk about defense first,” Koclanes said. “Offensively, we show spurts. But we’ve got to be able to hang our hat on getting stops. That’s how you give yourself a chance every night.”

This article first appeared on Dallas Hoops Journal and was syndicated with permission.

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