She might be a rookie, but Paige Bueckers doesn’t always act like one.

That was on fully display Tuesday night after Bueckers converted a foul into an and-one — and Liberty vet Jonquel Jones immediately signaled that her team should challenge the call.

Not to be outdone, a confident Bueckers began to make the hand signal herself, and even walked all the way up to Jones’ face while doing so.

The moment took place toward the end of the fourth quarter, and ultimately resulted in the Liberty deciding against challenging the call.

Bueckers put in a strong performance against the league’s defending champions, racking up 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists. The Wings ultimately lost 85-76.

Dallas will play the Liberty again on August 8.

DiJonai Carrington sends Paige Bueckers message following Wings-Lynx trade

Dallas Wings guards DiJonai Carrington and Paige Bueckers

DiJonai Carrington is already at home in Minnesota. Just three days after the Lynx acquired her from the Dallas Wings, Carrington on Tuesday relished a “simplified” role in her debut for her new team; she scored 13 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter, as the Napheesa Collier-less Lynx rallied to defeat the Seattle Storm, 91-87.

After the game, Carrington admitted that her Lynx debut was among the few times she has enjoyed playing basketball in 2025. It has been a frustrating season for last year’s Most Improved Player; injuries have limited her 21 games, and the Wings traded her partner NaLyssa Smith to the Las Vegas Aces at the end of June.

Still, that’s not to say Carrington left the Wings without any fond memories. Carrington and Smith mentored Paige Bueckers prior to their trades out of Dallas, with Bueckers admitting on Monday that she considered them her “big sisters.”

And after Carrington helped Minnesota improve to a WNBA-best 25-5, she took to X to chime in on Bueckers’ comments with a three-word message to Dallas’ rising superstar.