Paige Bueckers is not used to losing, and the Connecticut crowd is not used to seeing her lose. Bueckers put the ‘win’ in Dallas Wings as she put on a show to get them the first win of the season in Connecticut. The No. 1 overall pick scored 21 points on 80% shooting while adding five rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and one block.

This game isn’t just about the scoreboard, it’s the first time Paige and Angel Reese, two college basketball superstars, go head-to-head in the pros. Paige’s smooth playmaking and sharpshooting from her UConn days contrast with Angel’s relentless energy and rebounding prowess from LSU. They never faced off in college, so this matchup is a fresh chapter for fans who’ve followed their journeys. It’s a clash of styles that’s got everyone talking.

The crowd was not surprised at Bueckers’ magic, as they had seen the same thing her entire college career at UConn. But it was not only about her on the day, as Arike Ogunbowale found some form with 19 points and 4 assists on the night, with DiJonai Carrington also chipping in with 16 points. 

Now they face another winless team in Chicago Sky is next but there is a growing concern around Paige Bueckers playing so many minutes so early into her WNBA career. She has played 33 minutes per game, which is the most on the team and she has had to be the top scorer, the top assister and the second-best rebounder, which could prove problematic to Bueckers. Bueckers’ collegiate injury history, combined with her frail frame, makes her heavy minutes more than a bit alarming. Will Chris Koclanes have the full squad tonight against the Chicago Sky?

Dallas Wings: Injury report: Will Paige Bueckers play tonight?

Fortunately for Dallas Wings fans and basketball fans in general, they will most probably see Paige Bueckers’ magic right from the word go against the Chicago Sky, as there are no reports of any injury for her. 

However, it will not be a full house, as guard Tyasha Harris is listed as questionable with her knee injury that she sustained in the last game. Harris exited Tuesday night’s game against the Connecticut Sun after playing just 8 minutes.

If Tyasha can’t play, it’s a big blow. She’s a key playmaker, and her absence puts more pressure on Paige to run the show. Rookie Azaiah James stepped up against the Sun, and she might need to bring that same spark again. The Wings are still figuring out their backcourt depth, so this game will test how they adapt.

Wings will have the rest of the squad intact to hopefully build from that win against the Sun. If Harris is sidelined, the Wings will need to explore additional guard depth to maintain their momentum.

Can the Dallas Wings start a winning streak against the Chicago Sky after that inspiring win?

After Harris exited the game against the Sun, rookie Azaiah James played more substantial minutes, tallying the first basket of her WNBA career and scoring 9 points in the win. So we can expect the same in this game. Wings are off the mark, while their opponents have yet to taste victory so they will be more confident going into the game. 

Although Bueckers had a standout performance, other supporting cast members like Di Jonai and Arike also had their share of points, which makes that win much more important. The graph of the Wings seemed to be going upwards even before that win; they had that close game against the Minnesota Lynx, as opposed to the Chicago Sky, who has yet to show any promise. Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese will be a problem for Hines Allen at the board so the outside and midrange shooting of Bueckers and Arike will be that much more important. 

This will be one of the biggest tests for Bueckers, physicality-wise, as she will go up against Angel Reese for the first time. Despite both having illustrious college careers, they never faced each other in NCAA play due to their teams not crossing paths in tournaments or regular-season games. Her creativity and scoring capabilities will be a problem for Sky, just like Caitlin Clark was in their first game. Either way, it will be an exciting game to look forward to, with the tip-off scheduled for 8 PM EST on Thursday night in Chicago.