Paige Bueckers Manages to Make WNBA History Despite 104-80 Game 1 Loss vs. Valkyries

 “Paige Bueckers is the first guard in WNBA or NBA history to have a playoff debut with 20+ PTS, 90%+ FG,” the post read.

Although they have a history of efficiency in their games, the Dallas Wings lost to the second-seeded Golden State Valkyries with a score of 104-80 in Game 1 of the first round.

In the first half alone, Bueckers racked up 17 points on an efficient 7-of-8 from the field, setting a record for most points scored in a half for a WNBA playoff debut.

Bueckers’ 90% efficiency ties for third all-time in WNBA playoff history for any player making nine shots.

But Bueckers said after the game that it was anything but easy. In her post-game presser, she talked about just how little space Golden State’s defense left her.

“I mean, all my buckets are tough,” Bueckers said. “They make it extremely hard. They show shrinks, they have people in gaps, they show multiple bodies, they blitz, they make every shot tough, so nothing about tonight was easy.”

The Valkyries began their game as the league’s best defense, sweeping the season series 3-0, while holding the other four Wings starters to 14 points in the first half of a 37-11 second-quarter run.

The defense will be the primary issue once more in Game 2, as Bueckers had much to say about how they get theirs.

Paige Bueckers Credits Natalie Nakase For Valkyries’ Defensive Identity

Bueckers spoke about that during her postgame press conference as it related to the identity of the Valkyries.

“And their defense, as I said, has always been their calling card,” she said.

Game 2 takes place Wednesday at College Park Center at 8 p.m. CT on ESPN, and a defeat would put an end to Dallas’ season in the best-of-three series.

The head coach of the Valkyries, Natalie Nakase, was also thanked for forming their identity.

“I’ve been around Coach Nat enough to know that her team is always going to be prepared and give you their best shot defensively,” Bueckers said. “So I know she’s not pleased even though they gave up 80 points. I know every single night against them is going to be tough.”

Maddy Siegrist, a Wings forward, had 11 points, while Kitija Laksa, a Wings guard, contributed 11 points and scored all of them in the final quarter. Arike Ogunbowale, another guard for the Wings, contributed 10 points, shooting perfectly from the free-throw line.