Paige Bueckers channels Michael Jordan with savage tongue-out celly — ref’s face says it all originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
A celebration during a heated WNBA game this past weekend quickly went viral across social media. And basketball fans could not stop focusing on one unexpected reaction captured on camera.
Yahoo Sports posted a two-panel image on X on May 12. It showed Paige Bueckers celebrating during Dallas' 107-104 win over Indiana on May 9.
The post was captioned "The ref's face after Paige Bueckers' celly" and it soon spread across social media. The referee's stunned reaction became the real story of the entire post.
Bueckers stuck her tongue out during the celebration, a move that reminded many fans of Michael Jordan. She had just made a big play against the Fever when cameras caught her reaction.
In the background, a female referee stared, wide-eyed and stunned. Fans could not look away from her surprised face in the photo.
Fans across social media instantly turned the referee image into memes. Some compared the official's look to famous Key and Peele comedy sketches. Others simply joked that she was completely speechless at the celebration.
The image also drew comparisons to Michael Jordan because of Bueckers' playful gesture. Many fans noted that her confident style makes every game feel exciting.
Bueckers is a former UConn star and the number 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. She won the 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year after averaging 19.2 points per game for Dallas.
The Wings went just 10-34 in her rookie season, but Bueckers became the face of the franchise. She now plays alongside Arike Ogunbowale and 2026 top pick Azzi Fudd in Dallas.
Viral clips like this continue to fuel the WNBA's rapid growth on social media. The league saw online search interest jump 140% in 2025 alone.
Bueckers is quickly becoming one of the league's most marketable young stars. And judging by the reaction, this Dallas Wings moment may not be leaving fans' timelines anytime soon.
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