“Everybody Gets Their Day”: Jordin Canada On Viral Paige Bueckers Interaction As Dream Spoils Wings Home Opener

One play by Paige Bueckers and the arena went crazy. The Dallas Wings hosted the Atlanta Dream in one of the week’s most anticipated matchups and the Wings’ home opener. The reigning Rookie of the Year was off to a hot start to the season, fans were already looking forward to another big night, but it was one particular sequence involving Jordin Canada that had everyone buzzing.

With less than 3 minutes remaining in the game and Atlanta leading only by a single point (54-53), the Wings had possession of the ball in the third quarter. That’s when Bueckers received the ball on top of the floor and she went quickly toward the rim. Dream guard Canada rushed up beside her to block her lane, defending her on the play. But Bueckers unexpectedly halted, with her varied offensive toolbox, leaving the veteran guard completely off-kilter and falling to the court. That’s what we call ‘The Ankle Breaker’.

The clip of this moment began making the rounds online, but Canada herself had no problem giving Paige Bueckers credit afterward.

The Dream guard took to Threads after the game and reacted to the viral crossover, writing, “Aye Paige got me BAD lmao,” Canada wrote. “But you know what, everybody’s got their day, had to give her her props!”

But that one moment doesn’t tell the story of how Canada’s night went as she was one of the best scorers on her team. The 5-foot-6 star finished the game with 19 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists.

But the interaction that instantly turned heads for fans was how casually Canada embraced the moment. She leaned into it and even admitted just how clean the move actually was rather than getting defensive about being on a highlight reel.

But while Bueckers provided the home crowd one of the bigger highlights of the night, the ending itself did not go the Wings’ way as Dallas faltered in closing things out late.

Dream Outlasts Paige Bueckers and the Wings in Chaotic Home Opener

For three quarters, the Wings appeared ready to defend their franchise’s name on their home court and go 2-0 on the season.

Bueckers looked comfortable again running the offense and creating scoring opportunities for herself and teammates. And even after the viral ankle breaker moment she continued to show why so many already view her as one of the future faces of the league. Her speed shot creation and momentum control gave Dallas life over and over again in the matchup as she finished with 15 points, 2 rebounds and 3 assists.

But the game turned completely in the final stretch of the fourth quarter.

Dallas still looked very much in striking distance down just three points with just over five minutes to go. Suddenly their offense stalled. The Wings couldn’t get clean looks possessions got rushed and Atlanta slowly began to take control on both ends of the floor.

The cold streak was the separator in the end. Dallas didn't score again until the clock was down to about 3:36 and the Dream had already extended the lead to eight points. Late in the game the Wings made one last push but the damage was already done.

But two things are worth noting:

Both teams struggled to make shots from beyond the arc with Dallas shooting 15% and Atlanta hitting 27%.

Azzi Fudd was out of the game because of her knee.

Now, looking ahead to their next game May 14th against the Minnesota Lynx, the Wings 77-72 loss to the Dream showed a few things that Dallas will need to clean up going forward.

The Wings’ offense was very much predicated on difficult shot-making, and when the rhythm of their offense was lost they had a hard time settling themselves down. That’s a common rite of passage for young teams early in the season, particularly one that is still learning how to close out tight games together.