Some cultures believe in the power of the evil eye (a streak of bad luck that can be triggered by too much admiration or attention). Maybe it’s time basketball culture took that seriously, too. Because, just when Paige Bueckers was leading the Dallas Wings in nearly every key stat, misfortune struck her. She was averaging 18.4 points, 5.8 assists, 1.8 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game – right until the right-knee injury forced her off the court. But while misfortune clearly had Paige in its sights, it seems the Wings managed to dodge the rest of the fallout.

The Dallas Wings just secured an 8-point win against the Mystics, with JJ Quinerly saving the day alongside fellow rookie Aziaha James, who came off the bench. JJ’s performance tonight surely had Chris Koclanes patting himself on the back, because he saw it before anyone did. “She’s tiny, but she plays way bigger,” he once said. This statement echoed loudly in JJ’s self-analysis. Post game, she accepted, “I know I am (the fastest person in the WNBA), if anybody wants to race, let me know…I am kind of small, so I have that advantage for sure.” 

That’s good confidence to have, but it did not arise out of the blue. Rather, it seems to be built on the foundation of praise and support from the #1 2025 overall draft pick, Paige Bueckers. “She just said I had a great game and hyping me, and us up in general,” Quinerly revealed. Bueckers must have really felt like a big sister since before the game tipped off, she had also advised Quinerly to just do her thing on the court. This even showed that Paige Bueckers is as much of a team player from the sidelines as on the court. JJ did not let all the hype blind her, though. She did not shy away from accepting that “I’d give myself a B- for the turnovers other than that it was ok.” 

And it’s true because she had 5 turnovers – the highest on the Wings roster. But, for a player who likes “just being out there and enjoying every moment on the court,” it was surely a night to remember. Especially as she scored her career-high of 15 points, after being in the WNBA start for the first time. She has definitely come a long way since her days of “so definitely starting to um figure out the comfortability with that first group.” 

And maybe, just maybe, Quinerly could be the spark the Wings need to turn the season around. JJ’s offensive plays could finally fix their slow start. Starting her with limited guard depth would mean a tighter rotation. The wings would have to sub one out early, rotate smartly, and keep energy high. That quick start made all the difference tonight, too. That’s where the Mystics lost. Their poor first quarter doomed them despite Sonia Citron’s 22 points. Coach Koclanes managed to bounce back impressively after last night’s loss to the Fever. He made all the right moves even without Paige Bueckers.

The big question now is, will JJ’s talent finally get the recognition it deserves?

Where do the roots of JJ Quinerly’s talent lie?

JJ Quinerly has quickly become a backcourt force for the Dallas Wings (maybe moving to the frontcourt now). This comes from years of honing her adaptability during her NCAA days at West Virginia. There, she built a reputation as one of the nation’s toughest on-ball defenders, especially in press coverage. She ranked seventh in steals percentage and fourth among scoring point guards in defensive rating, according to Hoops-Explorer.

But don’t ask her to label herself as just a defensive or offensive player, even with her 15.5-point career scoring average. “I would say it depends on what’s needed at the moment,” she explained. “At the end of the day, I love defense, don’t get me wrong… but it definitely speaks to what’s going on in the situation. If we need a steal, alright, if we need a bucket, alright, I can get that, if we need a rebound, I can get that. So yeah, tell me what to do, I will do it.” That ability to adjust on the fly is the driving force behind her journey from being a college standout to WNBA rising star.

Off the court, JJ Quinerly says that she’s nothing like the intense competitor fans see on game day. “As a person, I’m definitely family-oriented, very supportive of people. I care for people a lot, very chilled and quiet… I’m probably going to be the one looking around, watching, listening, and trying to read people,” she said. But once she steps between the lines? “Intensity. I’m a dawg, I’m ready to go. I’m probably screaming if I didn’t hit a shot, totally different from how I would act off the court.”

This approach is essentially cerebral, and it stems from something other than early practices. As a criminology major and psychology minor, she has studied human behavior closely. That’s the insight she uses to sharpen her court awareness. That’s the essence of JJ’s game: a mix of instinct, intelligence, and unshakable self-awareness. And now, the WNBA is getting a front-row seat to watch her impact.