Paige Bueckers is absolutely tearing it up in the WNBA right now, but the emotional scars from her devastating 2022 ACL tear are still influencing her game on the court today. The Dallas Wings guard recently dropped some serious truth bombs on WNBA legend Sue Bird’s podcast, revealing that the injury left her feeling incredibly isolated, anxious, and totally uncertain about who she was outside of basketball. Those heavy feelings? She says they still pop up during games.
The Unseen Battle on the Court
Bueckers admitted she’s still not comfortable attacking crowded lanes, all because of the fear of landing awkwardly on one leg. Can you even imagine? That lasting trauma is a huge reason why she’s not driving to the basket as often as many fans expect her to. “When I tore my ACL, I just felt so isolated and alone. Like I felt like I was forgotten, like I wasn’t important anymore. I lost my identity,” she shared. That’s a gut punch, right? It puts her current play in a whole new light. This came after one of the strongest college starts ever, where she became the first freshman to win national women’s player of the year, leading UConn to the 2021 Final Four. She then had a tibial plateau fracture and lateral meniscus tear before the ACL tear in August 2022 that took her out for the entire 2022-23 season.
Adapting to Dominate, Not Just Survive
Despite carrying that emotional weight, Bueckers has been nothing short of phenomenal. She bounced back, helped UConn grab the 2025 NCAA championship, became the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, and is having a strong rookie WNBA season. She’s averaging a stellar 20.9 points per game, but her 3.6 free throw attempts reflect those limited trips to the rim. It’s clear she’s not forcing her old style. Instead, she’s adapted, saying the injury “helped me really learn how to get to my spots efficiently and work smarter and not harder.” She’s not just surviving, she’s learning and growing. Earlier this season, she also talked about how attacking the basket and drawing more free throws are still huge areas she wants to improve as her confidence keeps building.
What’s next for Bueckers as she continues to battle both on the court and with these lingering effects? We’ll be watching every game to see how she keeps adapting her game, pushing to attack the basket more, and drawing those fouls as her confidence keeps soaring. The sky’s the limit for this competitor.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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