"Warden" Paige Bueckers' poolside reminder to DiJonai Carrington falls flat as Wings suffer blowout: "Got a game tmr. need sleep"

Modified Jun 14, 2025 10:02 GMT

Paige Bueckers became the warden for her teammates DiJonai Carrington and NaLyssa Smith when she saw the couple hanging by the pool late at night. The couple went live on Instagram before their game against the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday.

In the video, Carrington is seen entering a swimming pool. Smith was behind the camera as she read out Bueckers' message live.

"Go to y'all's room we got a game tmr. NEED SLEEP!" Bueckers said.

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Smith then told Carrington that their "warden" was speaking. Carrington asked who was behind the message and Smith revealed Bueckers' name, prompting a sarcastic response.

"Girl! please don't get me started on her," Carrington said. "Are you back? Are you playing tomorrow? That's all I wanna know."

The next day, the Wings hit the road and reached the PHX Arena to face the Mercury. Bueckers returned to the court after missing four consecutive games due to a concussion she suffered in the 97-92 loss against the Chicago Sky on May 29.

Bueckers delivered an individual masterclass and scored a career-high 35 points. However, despite her best efforts, the Wings lost 93-80.DiJonai Carrington and NaLyssa Smith scored 11 and four points, respectively.

Paige Bueckers focuses on improvement after disappointing loss

Wednesday night's game was disappointing for Paige Bueckers as her team failed to seize victory despite a stunning performance from the No. 1 pick.

After the game, Bueckers said she was focused on her growth.

"Just trying to work to win games," Bueckers said. "I felt a little winded, I am just coming back from a break, and I feel like I could have used my voice more, been more disruptive and crashed the glass more. So as I get my wind under me, I'll be better in those areas." (1:09)

The Wings have had a terrible start to the season despite landing the most sought-after prospect in the 2025 draft. They are 13th in the WNBA standings with one win in 11 games and are on a six-game losing streak.

About the author

Avi Shravan's first year of college was the year he discovered his passion for basketball and the NBA. He has been an ardent fan of the sport ever since, from waking up early to cover games to watching pundit discussions, he does it all.

Avi is a big fan of Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks and Anthony Edwards from the Minnesota Timberwolves and firmly believes that the young star is the next big thing in the NBA.

Avi graduated in Mass Communication and Journalism, further enhancing his skills as a journalist and a writer. In his spare time when he is not writing, you can find him playing video games, watching anime, or reading a book he randomly picked at a bookstore.

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