Paige Bueckers is officially OUT for the Dallas Wings’ Monday night game against the New York Liberty, despite the team announcing she cleared concussion protocol. The star guard is missing the game due to soreness and is listed as out for rest, a wild turn after her scare just yesterday.
Collision and the Quick Check
Talk about a gut punch. Bueckers was caught in a brutal collision late in Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Sparks. She and Nneka Ogumike accidentally slammed into each other in the fourth quarter, and while Bueckers took the initial impact to her legs, it looked like the back of her head hit the floor *hard*. She was pulled from the game immediately, straight to the locker room for a concussion check, and she never returned. You know it’s serious when they pull a player in that situation.
Afterward, Wings head coach Jose Fernandez tried to keep things light. He told the media Bueckers was mostly just fired up that Azzie Fudd tripped Ogumike and swiped away what would’ve been Bueckers’ charge. Pretty wild for a coach to focus on a would-be charge in that moment, right? But now, it turns out it was more than just a missed call.
Dominating the Court All Season
This isn’t just a regular absence for any player, either. Bueckers has been on an absolute tear for the 17-8 Wings this season. She’s played in 24 games and has been putting up monster numbers: averaging 20.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game across 33.4 minutes. She is without a doubt the engine for that squad, carrying them to that impressive record. Missing her is a huge blow for Dallas, especially against a tough team like New York.
All-Star Status Hangs in the Balance
So, while clearing concussion protocol is a massive relief for everyone who saw that collision, her being listed as out for “rest” due to soreness right now is a huge question mark. This Monday night game against New York is already the second of a back-to-back for Dallas, so managing her physical load makes total sense after such an intense hit. But with the highly anticipated 2026 WNBA All-Star Game looming on July 25, any “lingering issues” from that impact could totally complicate her participation. We’re talking about a prime spot in the All-Star showcase here, folks! That’s a huge deal for a player having this kind of season.
The Wings have to navigate tonight’s game without their dynamo on the court. All eyes will undoubtedly be on her status over the next few days. Will that soreness clear up completely in time for the big All-Star showcase? We’re all holding our breath to see when Bueckers is back out there, moving at 100%, and hopefully, leading her team and rocking the All-Star court.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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