Dallas Wings Look to End Paige Bueckers’ Fourth‑Quarter Habit

Bueckers Leads League in Fourth‑Quarter Scoring

Paige Bueckers tops the WNBA this season with 138 points in the fourth quarter across 19 games, outpacing Breanna Stewart’s 126 points (22 games) and Kahleah Copper, who also trails the leader. The prolific scoring has become a focal point for Dallas fans, but Bueckers admits the reliance on late‑game heroics is a “bad habit” for the team. She expressed frustration on the Yahoo Sports Hoops 360 podcast, noting that the Wings often find themselves trailing after the third period and must conjure a will to win in the final frame. The Binging has created must‑watch moments, yet the two‑time All‑Star wants the roster to tighten up earlier and sustain that intensity for all 40 minutes.

Bueckers’ 22‑point outburst against the Chicago Sky on Sunday, including the first six points of the fourth quarter, helped secure a 96‑91 victory and extend the Wings’ winning streak to five. Dallas’s fourth‑quarter performance that night featured a balanced attack: Bueckers netted 8 points (3 of 6), Arike Ogunbowale added 8 (3 of 5), Jessica Shepard contributed 8 (4 of 4), and Azzi Fudd poured in 6 (2 of 3 from deep). Five of her 11 assists came in the final period, underscoring her all‑around impact when the game is on the line.

Wings’ Late‑Game Comebacks Driving Success

Dallas (16‑8) sits fourth in the playoff picture, only 2.5 games behind league‑leading Minnesota. Half of their victories have come from deficits in the fourth quarter, a rate that matches Washington Mystics (12‑10) for the most in the league. The pattern has become a double‑edged sword: while it fuels dramatic wins, it also signals a need for better early‑half execution. “We want to lock in for the whole game, not just the fourth,” Bueckers said, highlighting the team’s aspiration to sharpen focus from the opening tip.

The Wings’ ability to rally late has already produced three double‑digit comeback wins over Chicago this season, tying the WNBA record for most back‑to‑back double‑digit triumphs against a single opponent in one year. Their fourth‑quarter average of 22.4 points per game ranks fourth league‑wide, but the real story is the third‑quarter production at 24.1 points per game, the third‑best mark in the circuit. First‑half scoring sits at 20.8 points (10th) and 21.5 points (sixth), showing where adjustments are still needed.

Emerging Stars Fuel Dallas’s Playoff Push

Dallas’s roster continuity includes Bueckers and Ogunbowale as the only returning starters, and fresh faces are already making noise. Rookie Azzi Fudd, the No. 1 overall draft pick from UConn, leads all newcomers with 40 steals and averages 1.7 per game, placing her fourth in the league. Jessica Shepard, acquired from Minnesota, has turned heads with three triple‑doubles and a steady statistical line, earning her first All‑Star nod and a spot alongside Bueckers as a starter. Center Awak Kuier is posting career‑high averages after stepping into the starting lineup for the first time in four seasons.

The team’s philosophy under first‑year head coach Jose Fernandez is summed up by Bueckers: a “we over me” mentality that emphasizes depth and shared responsibility. This approach is beginning to bear fruit, as Dallas has already eclipsed its 2025 win total of 10 by game 16 and is building chemistry that could prove vital in October’s postseason scramble.

Quarter‑by‑Quarter Scoring Breakdown

• First quarter: Dallas averages 20.8 points, the 10th‑best rate in the WNBA. Bueckers contributed 106 points, still behind league MVP A’ja Wilson’s 164.
• Second quarter: The Wings climb to 21.5 points per game, ranking sixth.
• Third quarter: Peak performance at 24.1 points per game, the third‑best figure league‑wide.
• Fourth quarter: 22.4 points per game, good for fourth place.

These figures illustrate where the Wings excel and where they must improve to stay competitive in the tight playoff race.

Key Schedule Updates

Dallas has split its series with the perennial contenders, defeating the Aces 2‑1 and the Liberty 2‑0. However, more than half of their defeats have come against the Dream (0‑2) and the Lynx (0‑3), leaving two games remaining against each foe. A scheduled Thursday matchup against the Liberty was postponed due to mechanical issues with New York’s charter, and the contest will now be played Monday at 8 p.m. ET.

The Wings are positioning themselves for a return to the playoffs for the first time since 2023, when they fell to the Aces in a three‑game series. With back‑to‑back No. 1 draft picks and a nucleus of young talent, the organization hopes this season’s late‑game proficiency will evolve into sustained success as the calendar moves toward October.