Paige Bueckers left Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Sparks after a terrifying collision with Nneka Ogwumike, sending a real shockwave through the WNBA. The Dallas Wings’ star was on defense when Ogwumike tripped and slammed right into her, sending Bueckers crashing hard to the court. She was clearly holding her head afterwards, and it was a gut-wrenching moment to watch unfold. Ogwumike also had to exit the game, making it a double blow for both squads. Wings head coach Jose Fernandez didn’t have an immediate update for reporters after the final buzzer, but you know everyone is holding their breath, waiting for some news later today on her condition. This is exactly the kind of thing you never want to see, especially when a team is playing this well.
A Clutch Win, But At What Cost?
Before the injury, Bueckers was absolutely *balling*, putting up a monster 25 points on an efficient 10-of-18 from the field, plus dropping five assists and grabbing four rebounds. Think about that stat line in just part of a game! It’s wild to imagine what her final numbers would’ve looked like if she’d stayed in. Even with Bueckers sidelined for the stretch run, her teammate Arike Ogunbowale stepped up huge, pouring in 20 points to help seal the win for Dallas. Talk about clutch when your star goes down! Ogwumike had a solid game for the Sparks too, scoring a team-high 17 points before her exit. The Wings got the W, no doubt, but seeing your MVP candidate go down like that, especially with her holding her head, you gotta wonder about the long-term cost.
From Last Place To A Six-Game Heater
This season has been nothing short of spectacular for Bueckers and the Wings. After going a dismal 10-34 a year ago, they’ve completely flipped the script, starting this season at an incredible 17-8. That puts them in fourth place in the WNBA standings, which is just an insane turnaround. Bueckers, last year’s reigning Rookie of the Year, has been playing at an MVP-caliber level in her second season, averaging a sensational 20.7 points, 6.3 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per game. She’s been the engine of this team’s success, no question. Sunday’s victory not only added to their incredible record but also pushed their win streak to six consecutive games. Get this: it’s the first time the franchise has ever won six straight games since they moved to Dallas. This team is *cooking*, man, and it’s all thanks to her incredible play elevating everyone around her.
The big question now, and it’s a massive one, is what happens next? The Wings are slated to play the New York Liberty on Monday, and with Sunday being the first game of a back-to-back, it’s tough to imagine Bueckers being out there. Her health is literally what this whole incredible run relies on, and the team will be hoping she avoids missing any time. If she’s out for any significant stretch this week, the offensive load for the backcourt will fall hard on both Arike Ogunbowale and Azzi Fudd. Both guards are already putting up 13.3 points per game this season, averaging about 30 minutes each. They’ve gotta be ready to step up and keep this historic six-game win streak alive against the Liberty! Let’s hope for the best news for Paige and that she’s back on the court ASAP!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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