WNBA 2026: How The WNBA Scoring Adjustment Led To A Rare Failure From Paige Bueckers?

Paige Bueckers (Image Credits: Imagn)

WNBA 2026: How The WNBA Scoring Adjustment Led To A Rare Failure From Paige Bueckers?

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports
By Debmallya Chakraborty | Last updated May 23, 2026 2:38 PM ET

When Caitlin Clark joined the Indiana Fever back in 2024, her incredible surge looked like something that the league had never witnessed. Surprisingly, just a year later, another rookie, Paige Bueckers, showed the WNBA world that rookies could instantly become the mainstays of a team.

Showing some excellent talent, the 24-year-old won the Rookie of the Year award last season. And with expectations skyrocketing, the former UConn Huskies star also looked in sublime touch in 2026. That was until Bueckers faced off against the Atlanta Dream.

Bueckers’ failure is not a sight that the WNBA world is used to seeing. But during the game against Dream, the Dallas Wings’ superstar looked overwhelmed. Squaring off against the elite Atlanta defense was never going to be enough. And they made sure that Bueckers was suffocated. The Minnesota-born saw her passing lanes vanish while driving windows, too, becoming a rarity.

Right from the very beginning, the Atlanta defenders challenged the star player to a physical battle. Now, compared to last season, the 2025 WNBA All-Star has worked on her physicality. But having to fight for every single possession drained out the 6-foot star completely.

As a result, the Wings’ star dropped career-low figures of just seven points after logging in for 31 minutes. She also managed seven assists and a rebound as Dallas suffered a brutal 86-69 thrashing to Atlanta.

Paige Bueckers dropped her lowest scoring total of her WNBA career in Friday's loss to the Dream pic.twitter.com/JqgFWyM03W
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) May 23, 2026

Looking deeper into her game, the 2025 NCAA champion could only manage to shoot 3-of-13 from the field. And her three-point shooting? Well, it was dismal too. Out of her six attempts throughout the game, the 24-year-old converted only one shot from beyond the arc.

Such a move performance exposes how difficult scoring adjustment can become against the best WNBA defenders. The duo of Rhyne Howard and Jordin Canada kept a constant leash as they pressed the Wings’ guards throughout the game.

Arike Ogunbowale Shares Paige Bueckers’ Struggles As Dallas Wings Look To Bounce Back

Despite a night of overwhelming showing, there is no telling that the 2025 WNBA All-Star remains the best player in the league. Following the game against the Washington Mystics, Bueckers dropped 18 points in just 33 minutes of action. Moreover, she hit an average of 20 points, 5.5 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game. And this speaks volumes about her credibility as a top draw of the league.

Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale (Photos by Imagn Images)

Surely, despite her first poor showing, Dallas need not press the panic button just yet. Modeling her game after the Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry, Bueckers will surely have the basketball brains to get out of the complex situation that she is in. Interestingly, the 24-year-old was not the only one struggling to get over the elite Atlanta defense. Former number one pick, Ogunbowale, too, had a rough night. Playing for 25 minutes, the 29-year-old dropped just two points. She also had a dismal 1-of-11 shooting.

Overall, the entire Dallas team struggled. Putting up some somber numbers, the Wings had a 38 percent shooting from the field while they converted 25 percent of their shots from the three-point mark. Surely, following the loss, Jose Fernandez will need to go back to the drawing board. But for someone like Bueckers, a comeback seems only a matter of time. And fans hope it happens soon.

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

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