In a game that quickly spiraled from competitive to chaotic, the Las Vegas Aces suffered more than just a 101-84 loss to the Dallas Wings on Tuesday night. The real story unfolded midway through the third quarter when guard Chennedy Carter was ejected after a fiery, on-court altercation with Wings rookie sensation Paige Bueckers.
The incident occurred with 5:42 left in the third period. With the Aces already trailing by double digits, Carter and Bueckers became entangled while jostling for positioning off the ball. What began as a routine box-out escalated when Carter appeared to swing her arm, making contact with Bueckers’ shoulder and neck area. Bueckers reacted by shoving Carter away, prompting both benches to empty as players and coaches rushed to separate the two.
After a lengthy video review, referees assessed a Flagrant 2 foul on Carter, resulting in an automatic ejection. The crowd in Dallas erupted, while Carter had to be restrained by teammates as she voiced her displeasure before heading to the locker room. She finished the night with just 7 points and 3 assists in 18 minutes of play.
“Emotions ran high tonight,” Aces head coach Becky Hammon said in the post-game press conference. “It’s not the kind of basketball we want to play, but it happened. We have to be better, plain and simple.”
For Bueckers, the moment was quickly overshadowed by her own stellar performance. The rookie finished with a game-high 28 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists, leading the Wings to a dominant victory that snapped the Aces’ three-game win streak.
“I was just trying to play basketball,” Bueckers said calmly when asked about the altercation. “Things get heated. I’m glad we kept our focus and got the win.”
The ejection marks a troubling trend for Carter, who has faced disciplinary issues in the past. The Aces will now have to regroup without their fiery guard as they prepare for their next matchup against the Seattle Storm. For now, the loss and the controversy will serve as a stark reminder of how quickly momentum—and composure—can slip away.