Don’t let the standings fool you. Dallas might be near the bottom, but their offense is a whole different story. Offensively, they are ranked among the top seven in the league. And all the credit goes to their rookies. JJ Quinerly once said, “Like I said, when my number’s called, I’m gonna show up. And I’m gonna make sure I do what I need to do for my coaches and my teammates,” and she wasn’t lying. After Sami Whitcomb’s 36-point explosion in the Dallas rematch with the Phoenix, Quinerly topped both sides with 18 points.

Not just tonight, the last time these two squads matched up in front of a roaring home crowd, their rookie performance forced praise out of HC Koclanes’ mouth. “Everyone on that roster can contribute. That’s our competitive depth, and everyone is going to continue to buy into that,” he said after the 98-89 win. Even without their veterans, Arike Ogunbowale or DiJonai Carrington, and with rookies making up 80% of their starting lineup, that night was fabulous for Dallas. The trio of Paige Bueckers, Quinerly, and James dropped a combined 68 points, 15 boards, and 18 assists.

However, as everyone knows by now, those 18 points by Quinerly did not help eventually. Just when momentum was in the air, with Dallas winning 5 of their last 7, a Mercurous disaster struck (102-72). Throughout the game, it did not seem like Dallas stood a chance. And that raised concerns about their upcoming matchup vs. the Sky. You bet it’s a much-needed win for the Wings because otherwise they could fall to No. 12 overall, where the Sky sit currently. Moreover, according to Myisha Hines-Allen, Chicago is, “a team we (Dallas Wings) owe a game to. She added, “They beat us twice, and we know they’re coming out hungry..Especially after a close loss last night against Minnesota. We’re both eager to get this win.”

So, the stakes just got higher for Dallas. And so to not lose it all, the Wings have a plan in place. Luckily for us, Hines Allen shared it, ” If we stay focused, follow the game plan, execute offensively, and play our style. Not worrying about missed shots and just staying aggressive, then the sky’s the limit for our next game.” If this statement proves anything, it’s that they are self-aware.

Even Luisa Geiselsöder had the same analysis. “We were one step late on everything,” she said postgame. “They were hitting—I don’t even know what percentage—but it felt like everything. We also gave them some easy shots early on. We let Sami get hot, and I think we could’ve done a better job stopping that.” So now, the Wings should focus solely on stopping Ariel Atkins and Angel Reese from stepping all over them like Whitcomb did last night, and they can take the win home. And Paige Bueckers would have to show up for that, despite all the setbacks last night. 

Paige Bueckers must not join the list

In the first quarter of their latest game, Paige Bueckers took a nasty hit driving to the basket. She slammed head-first into Mercury center Kalani Brown. The collision was loud and brutal, the type that typically gets a foul call, a review, or at least a stoppage in play. But this time? Nothing. No whistle, no replay check, no timeout. The game just rolled on. The hit clearly shook Bueckers. She looked off for the rest of the night, didn’t score at all in the third quarter, and sat out the fourth.

It was a concerning moment, especially after the month she had just had. In June, Bueckers was named WNBA Rookie of the Month (the first Dallas rookie to win the honor since 2019). She put up 21.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5 assists, 1.7 steals, and nearly a block per game while shooting 47.5% from the field and an elite 92.9% from the line. She was third in league scoring, tops among guards, and the only player averaging at least 20 points and 5 assists. Among rookies, she was absolutely dominating.

But against Phoenix, that Rookie of the Month energy was missing. She ended with just 11 points on 3-of-11 shooting, plus only 2 rebounds and 3 assists. Fans were immediately worried, especially since she had recently been in concussion protocol after a supposedly hard hit from Sky guard Courtney Vandersloot. That injury cost her three games (one due to illness). So, clearly, the fear of another setback is real.

After the game, though, head coach Chris Koclanes tried to calm nerves. As reporter Joey Mistretta posted on X, Koclanes said, “(Paige Bueckers) is feeling okay.” That offered some relief to fans and media. Still, the timing couldn’t be worse. The Wings are already stretched thin with just eight healthy players available. Stars like Arike Ogunbowale, DiJonai Carrington, and Maddy Siegrist are all sidelined. If Bueckers joins that list, it would be a full-blown crisis.