Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

“How Many Times Does She Have to Be on the Ground?” – Wings Head Coach Calls Out Officiating while Defending Paige Bueckers

Koclanes believed that he has to take a stand for the team in poor officiating.

Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Dallas Wings had a disaster season as they slipped to the bottom of the table after a 90-81 loss to the Golden State Valkyries. Following the loss, Wings head coach Chris Koclanes looked in frustration with the poor officiating. He called out the officiating while defending his team’s rookie guard Paige Bueckers.

The 2025 WNBA draft No. 1 pick managed nine points and nine assists in Dallas’ nineth loss in ten games. Koclanes wasn’t happy wwith the lack of foul calls on Bueckers, who attempted only two free throws. The head coach argued with the referees in the final quarter and received a technical foul in return.

Wings Head Coach Addresses His Technical Foul, Calls Out Officiating of Paige Bueckers

“It was extremely physical,” Koclanes said. “She was attacking the rim and playing in the paint downhill, and for her to only go to the free-throw line two times — something’s off there. For her to play that hard with all the fouls in the game and all that physicality, I don’t agree with that.

Koclanes feels Bueckers played in the paint downhill and got only two attempts of free throws. Meanwhile, he gave credit to her rookie guard to stick with it and carry the team. The Wings head coach also wants his players to step up and help Bueckers on the court.

Chris Koclanes took up for Paige Bueckers postgame.

“How many times does she have to be on the ground for us to start protecting her and cleaning up the physicality?”#wingsup #wnba #paigebueckers pic.twitter.com/YrsX7a2L1N
— Melissa Triebwasser (@TheCoachMelissa) August 24, 2025

“But credit to Paige for continuing to stick with it. She just has a next-play mentality and doesn’t let that linger,” he added. “She can get to the next play quickly. She had nine assists, made the right plays, and kept attacking. But other people around her have to step up and make some shots too.”

Koclanes believed that he has to take a stand for the team in poor officiating. He feels that his technical foul was part of showing solidarity for the team. With the loss against the Valkyries, Dallas dropped to 9-29 on the season. It remains one of the most injury-plagued seasons for the Wings.

“The whistle wasn’t going our way, and then I see Paige get run over on a box out,” Koclanes said. “How many times does she have to be on the ground before she gets protection? I had to step in and show our players I have their back. I hoped it would be a momentum changer, but Golden State responded with timely threes.”

“We’re not saying it’s okay to lose, but we do have standards and accountability,” Koclanes said. “When you show up with that gratitude and perspective every day, long term it helps us. We’ve got fantastic people in that locker room who stick together and want to get better.”

Dallas will now end their three-game homestand Wednesday against the Connecticut Sun. The Wings hold a 2-0 advantage in the regular-season series. They have gone 1-9 in the last ten games and the doors for the WNBA playoffs have also been closed.

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A native of Jaipur, Rajasthan, journalist, and a complete soccer and basketball fan, he found the huge interest with basketball by watching videos of Allen Iverson and Tony Parker, but fell head over heels in love with the sport during the Warriors’ championship era (2015-2018). A sports game addict since his late PS1, he’s also passionate about the Eagles, Inter Miami and the Fever. He’s fortunate to have seen all his favorite teams win championships. He also has a special love for cricket and football (soccer), where he is a fan of Royal Challengers Bangalore and Barcelona.