Paige Bueckers delivered another ‘welcome to the WNBA’ moment against Dream originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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There are certain players in the WNBA who can make an entire arena react with one move. Paige Bueckers is quickly proving she belongs in that category.
Just days after helping the Dallas Wings open the season with a statement win over the Indiana Fever, Bueckers had social media buzzing Tuesday night again against the Atlanta Dream. This time, it was veteran guard Jordin Canada who found herself on the wrong end of one of the smoothest highlights of the young WNBA season.
Bueckers caught the ball on the perimeter in the third quarter and used Canada’s momentum against her with a sudden stop move that sent the Dream guard to the floor. The crowd at College Park Center erupted immediately as clips of the play spread across social media within minutes.
Paige Bueckers continues showing why WNBA fans are obsessed with her game
The play itself lasted only a couple seconds, but it perfectly captured why Bueckers has become one of the league’s fastest-rising stars. She doesn’t rely only on speed or athleticism. Her pacing, balance and ability to manipulate defenders already look polished at a veteran level. That is part of why many around the league believe Bueckers has a real opportunity to become one of the WNBA’s elite guards sooner rather than later.
PAIGE BUECKERS ANKLE BREAKER
OH MY GOODNESS. 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/kZCpiTFCTf
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 13, 2026
Wings could not capitalize on Bueckers’ highlight moment
As electric as the ankle-breaking sequence was, the night still ended in frustration for Dallas. The Wings struggled badly offensively in the final minutes as Atlanta closed the game on a decisive run. Dallas was within three points midway through the fourth quarter before its offense completely stalled. The Dream eventually pulled away for a 77-71 win.
MORE: Indiana Fever’s careful Lexie Hull plan says a lot about Stephanie White’s priorities
Bueckers finished with 15 points while Arike Ogunbowale led Dallas with 20. On the other side, Allisha Gray scored 26 points and Angel Reese added 12 points and 16 rebounds. Even in the loss, though, Bueckers once again gave fans a reminder of why so many people are tuning into Wings games right now. Every possession feels like it could turn into a viral moment.
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