“Paige is a great teammate, and her teammates love playing with her.” This was the praise Paige Bueckers got from Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer and Analyst Rebecca Lobo. Furthermore, her records have been phenomenal. After the Atlanta game, she set a new rookie record for the most games with 20+ points and 5+ assists, surpassing the likes of Caitlin Clark.

Now the wonder rookie is set to face off against Clark’s team on August 1. It is a high-stakes matchup for the Dallas Wings, who desperately need a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. But for Paige Bueckers, this game carries more than just postseason pressure. As she heads into the locker room, her emotions are likely to be conflicted. That’s mainly because of the team’s latest roster shake-ups.

The Dallas Wings waived Grace Berger on July 31. The team had signed the American player on July 16 to a seven-day hardship contract. The Wings qualified for the roster hardship exception following injuries to key players Maddy Siegrist and Ty Harris. They renewed the seven-day hardship again after a week had passed. However, Berger had a short and uneventful time at the Wings.

In the three games she appeared in, she logged just 13 minutes of total court time. Despite the limited opportunity, she averaged 1.3 points, 3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 0.3 blocks per game. While her presence was brief, Berger offered the Wings valuable depth and allowed for key rotations. Now, with the fellow guard no longer on the roster, Paige Bueckers faces added responsibility.

However, it is not all gloomy for the wonder rookie. One of her closest teammates is set to return from injury, offering both relief and renewed energy to the backcourt.

Maddy Siegrist returns, boosting Paige Bueckers and the Wings.

After missing the last 17 games, forward Maddy Siegrist will be available to play on Friday against the Indiana Fever. She had been out of the game for more than a month due to a fracture in her right knee. In the eleven games she played this season, Siegrist averaged 9.4 points and 5.2 rebounds.

Her best performance this season came against the Minnesota Lynx on June 8, where she had a 15-point, 11-rebound stint. But now, in the third year, forward is fit and will be a key player in the Wings taking on the Fever. The third-year Siegrist and the rookie Bueckers share a special bond.

Once fierce Big East rivals, Siegrist at Villanova and Bueckers at UConn, they’ve transformed that rivalry into seamless on‑court chemistry. As Siegrist put it, “It’s better playing with her than against her. But obviously, she’s just such a great teammate; not only is she a great basketball player, but she also makes her teammates around her better. I’m happy to be able to play with her.” On the eve of the Wings vs Aces game, Bueckers and Siegrist were spotted on the bench, but in very different roles.

Bueckers was the animated rookie, throwing playful jabs at opponents and referees. Siegrist, on the other hand, acted like the composed veteran, trying to calm her down as if putting her in a timeout. Their cheeky exchange quickly went viral. Fans will experience a bittersweet moment as they prepare to say goodbye to Grace Berger and look forward to seeing the on-court chemistry between Paige Bueckers and Maddy Siegrist once again. The duo will play their next match against the Indiana Fever on Friday, 1 August at 3:30 PM PST.