Paige Bueckers, Wings Clinch WNBA Playoffs

Paige Bueckers put up 22 points and 11 assists as the Dallas Wings clinched the final WNBA playoff spot with a 96-78 win over the Portland Fire on Tuesday night in Arlington. ESPN and the Associated Press confirmed the result, which sends Dallas to the postseason for the first time since 2023 and sets a franchise record for regular-season wins, with five games still left.

Bueckers shot 8 of 15 from the field, 3 of 7 from three, and 3 of 3 at the line in 33 minutes. She added four rebounds, two steals and a block, and she was a plus-26. Jessica Shepard matched the pace inside with 21 points, nine rebounds and six assists on 10-of-15 shooting. Arike Ogunbowale scored 17, and Awak Kuier finished with 12 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks.

How did the Wings clinch the WNBA playoffs?

Dallas (23-16) needed a win and got a blowout. The Wings led 27-18 after one, 50-37 at halftime and 71-52 after three. They shot 55 percent from the field and 46 percent from three (11 of 24). Portland (15-23) shot 38 percent overall and 28 percent from deep (10 of 36). Bridget Carleton and Karlie Samuelson each scored 14 for the Fire, and Emily Engstler had 12 points and 15 rebounds in a losing box.

The AP recap posted at 10:07 p.m. Tuesday. That was after the East Coast window, and it was the first time Dallas locked a playoff berth in three seasons. Five games remain, so the 23-win mark can still grow. For a roster built around Bueckers' second-year creation, the ticket is the point. The rest of the standings will decide the seed.

What did Paige Bueckers do vs the Fire?

She ran the show. Eleven assists against one turnover is the line that travels. Shepard finished at the rim, Ogunbowale got catch-and-shoot looks, and Kuier cleaned the glass. CBS Sports listed the same 22 and 11, plus Dallas' 26 assists on 38 field goals. That is a night where the offense hummed because the point guard kept finding the next pass.

Connecticut also won Tuesday, with Aaliyah Edwards scoring 26 in a Sun win over Chicago. Atlanta had already watched Angel Reese reset the rebound records a night earlier. The playoff picture is set at the bottom. Dallas is in. Portland is not. Bueckers made sure the math was finished before the fourth quarter turned into garbage time.

Paige Bueckers Wings playoffs FAQ

Did the Dallas Wings clinch a playoff spot? Yes. The 96-78 win over Portland locked the final WNBA berth.

How many points did Paige Bueckers score? She scored 22 with 11 assists on 8-of-15 shooting.

When did the Wings last make the playoffs? 2023. This is their first trip back, and 23 wins are already a franchise regular-season record.