Paige Bueckers’ brilliant run at the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup ended on an alarming note this past Sunday, with the former UConn star logging just three minutes in the final against France. Turns out, that limited playing time was all about a flare-up of patellar tendinitis in her right knee, a tough break for the young point guard and a definite concern for the Dallas Wings.
The World Stage Cut Short
Bueckers confirmed Wednesday that she played it safe due to “two back-to-backs” that Team USA faced to secure their fifth straight World Cup title. “I just wanted to be cautious, take that approach,” she said. “Obviously, the timing sucks, but being smart about it, knowing that there’s a reason and purpose for everything.” Before this setback, Bueckers was playing out of her mind on the world stage in Berlin, shooting 13 of 22 from the field in Team USA’s three group-stage games. She also nabbed four steals and four blocks, holding her own alongside standouts like fellow UConn alumnae Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier. But then came the consecutive games. She was already limited to a tournament-low 17 minutes in Saturday’s semifinal against Spain, scoring six points on just one field goal. In Sunday’s final, she checked in with only 2:38 left in the first quarter, grabbed an offensive rebound, then exited during the quarter break and never came back. That’s a brutal way for a World Cup run to wrap up.
What’s Next for Dallas?
The good news is Bueckers is expected back on the court Thursday as the WNBA season fires back up. The Dallas Wings are kicking off their final four-game stretch of the regular season, hosting the Los Angeles Sparks at 8 p.m. ET. She was held out of Tuesday’s practice for rest, and luckily, wasn’t even listed on Dallas’ mandatory WNBA Injury Report Wednesday evening. So, it sounds like the team is being super careful, and she’s ready to go for this critical run. Every game counts now, and having their star healthy is everything.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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