While the WNBA world lauded Kayla McBride for her record-breaking shooting night, Paige Bueckers was on the receiving end of the trolling. The criticism intensified after “ESPN Insights” shared McBride’s notable stats and records as she scored 43 points on Sunday, including a WNBA record 10 3-pointers. McBride shot 5-of-5 when guarded by Bueckers.
The Dallas Wings star’s ability to play on both sides of the ball has been intensely debated by her fans and those of rival teams. After ESPN released the stat on Bueckers’ defense when guarding a scorching-hot McBride, the 2025 No. 1 pick couldn’t escape criticism on X.
“Paige is just a cone drill?” one fan said.
More reactions followed.
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Paige Bueckers on Wings’ rough stretch as they lose six of their last seven games
The Wings are in a rough spot that not many would have seen coming given their explosive stretch before the All-Star break. Dallas were 18-9, but since their season resumed on July 29, they are 1-6. Bueckers opened up on this stretch after Sunday’s 103-90 loss to the Minnesota Lynx and how they can look to bounce back, saying:
“Just staying positive. We won six in a row; everybody was over the moon, everybody was feeling great. We were playing good individually. But you gotta embrace the hard as much as you embrace the good. That’s what happens in this league; you go through stretches of great, you go through stretches of bad. And it’s all about how you handle the adversity. Nobody’s gonna be able to get us out of it than us.
“So, to voice that, to keep a belief, we know what we’re capable of. We know what we have in our locker room, so to just keep that belief.”
On Sunday, the Wings suffered a double setback as they played without All-Star Jessica Sheppard and 3-point contest champion Azzi Fudd, who missed her second consecutive game. It was always going to be a tall task to beat Minnesota, and without their two starters, the challenge was even greater.
The Wings’ collective shot-making, playmaking and defense haven’t been near their level before the All-Star break. They have a 107.2 offensive rating (12th) and 111.0 defensive rating (10th) since then.
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The Wings also played six games in 12 days, which could have contributed to their losses. They will have a three-day break before resuming play on Wednesday night at home against Toronto Tempo and will hope to get back to winning ways.
Read more:
6 Stars Kayla McBride Dethroned To Claim WNBA’s 3-Point Single Game Record
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