The Dallas Wings received disappointing news on Monday, as rookie point guard Paige Bueckers was ruled out under WNBA concussion protocols and will miss Tuesday night’s game against the Seattle Storm. Bueckers, the top overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, sustained the injury during a narrow 97-92 loss to the Chicago Sky on Thursday. Dallas reporter Grant Afseth confirmed that she would be sidelined for at least the upcoming game.
This setback comes at a challenging time for the Wings, who are still trying to find their rhythm early in the season. With back-to-back losses to Chicago, Dallas currently holds a 1-6 record, tied for last place in the league. Despite high hopes for Bueckers’ rookie season, the team has struggled to build momentum.
In 2024, the Wings ended the season with a 9-31 record, ranking fifth in the WNBA Western Conference under head coach Latricia Trammell. For the 2025 season, Dallas aimed to improve by blending veteran scorers like Arike Ogunbowale, who averaged 22.2 points per game last year, with promising talents such as Nalyssa Smith, Maddy Siegrist, Dijonai Carrington, and Bueckers. However, the season hasn’t gone according to plan.
After starting the year with four straight losses, the Wings managed a strong win against the Connecticut Sun on May 27, posting a 109-87 victory highlighted by Bueckers’ 21 points, seven assists, and five rebounds. Unfortunately, they soon faced two more defeats against Chicago. In her first six games, Bueckers averaged 14.7 points, 6.7 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game, leading the team in assists, steals (2.0), and blocks (1.0).
Fan Take: For WNBA fans, Bueckers’ absence is a significant blow as she represents the future of the league and a key piece for the Wings’ revival. Her injury highlights the physical demands of professional women’s basketball and underscores the importance of player health in the sport’s ongoing growth and competitiveness.
