Paige Bueckers’ Controversial Technical Rescinded by WNBA

Dallas Wings All-Star guard Paige Bueckers had an uncharacteristic performance in the team’s 17-point loss to the Atlanta Dream on Friday night. Bueckers, the 2025 No. 1 overall pick and reigning Rookie of the Year, posted a career-low seven points on a career-worst 23.1% shooting.

The one recognizable aspect of Bueckers’ game was her fiery disposition, and that also ended in frustration. In the third quarter, Bueckers aggressively clapped after hearing the whistle during a drive to the hoop, presumably assuming a reach-in foul was incoming on Atlanta. Instead, Bueckers was shockingly assessed a technical foul for clapping.

After the loss, first-year Wings head coach Jose Fernandez declined to comment because, as he said, “I don’t wanna get fined.” But Bueckers and the Wings were proven correct less than 48 hours later.

Before the Wings’ clash with the New York Liberty in Brooklyn on Sunday afternoon, The Athletic’s Annie Costabile reported that Bueckers’ technical “will be rescinded” by the WNBA.

The New York Post’s Madeline Kenney relayed that Bueckers was “relieved” to have the tech rescinded because of her bet with Wings veteran forward Alysha Clark that she would make it through this season without getting a technical foul. Clark helped Bueckers with getting the tech rescinded.

“I just felt it wasn’t warranted,” Clark said Sunday, per Kenney. “If I’m gonna win money out of her, I want it to be legit.”

Bueckers put it all behind her against the Liberty. She quickly surpassed Friday’s seven-point total, having put up 11 points on 5-for-9 shooting from the floor by halftime. Bueckers finished with 24 points on 53.8% shooting from the field in the Wings’ emphatic 91-76 win in New York.