With every game, farther they slip from the rosy pre-season optimism. Where Kurt Miller selectively focused on the new look Dallas, and Chris Koclanes boldly declared to hit the reset button, the team has barely answered the enthusiasm. 8 games into the season, the scorecard reads a grim 1-7 while the injury report still carries their rookie sensation. Down and down they go the hill, but the Wings know not to lose composure. Teams have bounced back from much worse. So, as they approach a 3rd game without Paige Bueckers, the head coach is giving fans something to hold on to.

Heading into their 9th game, the Dallas Wings are still trying to steady the ship after a tough 9-31 campaign last season. With a fresh roster and a new head coach working to implement his system, early struggles were expected. But against the Seattle Storm, they showed signs of progress.

The Wings held a double-digit lead for most of the game and looked poised to grab a statement win. However, everything unraveled in the fourth quarter as the Storm mounted a furious 18-2 run to steal the win. Since missing key players like Paige Bueckers and Tyasha Harris, this was probably the best chance for Dallas to win a game, but when it mattered the most, they just couldn’t hold on. Nonetheless, what we got to see was that the Wings could put up a fight without a true PG, and in the upcoming game against the LA Sparks, they might even take a step further. Especially with 2 other player updates that Coach Koclanes has got to share.

“You know, liking what I’m seeing from Aziaha. I know, you know, she struggled a little bit from the floor, but she impacts the game in different ways. Had a bunch of nice scoring passes and defensively is just really understanding our concepts,” he said ahead of the game. “So, feeling more and more comfortable with Aziaha. And then you saw Luisa get some extended minutes there, and excited about what she brings.”

Aziaha and Luisa made a strong impression in their combined 34 minutes off the bench against the Storm. Aziaha may have finished with just 2 points on 1-of-7 shooting, but her impact was felt elsewhere. She also had 2 assists and 2 steals, showcasing the defensive intensity and playmaking that Coach Koclanes commended her for.

Meanwhile, center Luisa Geiselsoder scored 6 points on 2-of-4 from beyond the arc while adding 3 rebounds and 3 blocks in 22 minutes. Both delivered solid contributions. Coach Koclanes will be counting on them to bring that same spark against their next opponents tonight.

That said, the Wings are in desperate need of their floor general. And with her officially ruled out against the Sparks, the big question now is, when will the rookie finally return to action? Let’s find out!

Paige Bueckers injury update

Paige Bueckers’ injury dates back to the Wings’ 97-92 defeat against the Chicago Sky on May 29. Although the exact incident is unclear, many point to a hard collision with Courtney Vandersloot late in the first half as the cause of her concussion.

“You know, she didn’t really say anything. And then yesterday, after the game, she said she was feeling like she had a headache,” Chris Koclanes told reporters following the announcement of the injury. “And then said a couple things about, ‘I was hit this time and that time.’ That was the first of it. So once that was said, then right to the doctor and make sure we are not missing anything.”

Excitement grew Thursday when reporter Melissa Triebwasser shared that Bueckers returned to practice, though she hasn’t fully hit the court yet. Instead, she was seen doing some work on the bike. Whatever expectations had floated with regards to her return tonight have been squashed.

Bueckers’ return date remains uncertain. While June 8 against the Minnesota Lynx is a hopeful target, nothing’s confirmed yet. Only time will tell when the 2025 number 1 pick will make her comeback.