In a stunning turn of events at the Unrivaled playoffs, Paige Bueckers and her Breeze BC squad suffered a crushing defeat that left the young star visibly shaken. Last night in Brooklyn, at Barclays Center, Breeze held a commanding 16-point lead in the semifinal clash against Mist BC, powered by Breanna Stewart and Arike Ogunbowale. Bueckers, the former UConn phenom and WNBA standout, was electric early, dropping key buckets and dishing assists as Breeze looked poised to advance to the championship.
But what followed was a dramatic meltdown. Mist mounted an ferocious comeback, erasing the deficit with clutch plays and defensive stops. Ogunbowale sealed the deal with a dagger three-pointer on her birthday, handing Mist a 73-69 victory and sending Breeze home. Bueckers finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists but struggled in the final stretch, going cold from the field as the pressure mounted.
Sources close to the team described Bueckers as “devastated” in the locker room afterward. The 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year, who had been named to the All-Unrivaled First Team and led Breeze with 22.1 points per game in the regular season, fought back tears during postgame comments. “We had it,” she reportedly said quietly. “It’s tough to swallow when you let a lead like that slip away in playoffs.”
The loss caps a rollercoaster Unrivaled run for Bueckers, who earlier dominated in the first round with 29 points to eliminate defending champs Rose BC. Fans flooded social media with support, praising her resilience while acknowledging the pain of falling short. As Mist prepares for the title game, Bueckers’ heartbreak serves as a reminder of the fine line between glory and agony in this intense 3-on-3 league.
Despite the defeat, Bueckers’ performance throughout the season solidified her as one of the brightest stars in women’s basketball. The future remains bright, but for now, the sting of last night’s collapse lingers.
