This is how it’s done. Paige Bueckers to the WNBA probably. And also her own team. When the star rookie’s injury status was announced before Friday night’s game, we kind of knew how this was going to go for the Dallas Wings. So there you have it. The Wings have suffered their 23rd loss of the season. While not every loss has to do with Paige on or off the floor, it enables a fan-spun narrative that the Wings are way too dependent on her. Today, it showed even from the sidelines.

Ahead of the game against New York Liberty, all hopes for a star-studded matchup fizzled out early. The injury report ruled out Paige Bueckers due to a back injury, which she had sustained during Tuesday’s loss to the very team in New York. Dallas was hosting Sabrina Ionescu & Co. today, but redemption it was not.

While head coach Chris Koclanes had stated Bueckers would be available a day before the games. The status just kept worsening. Initially, the rookie was seen on the sidelines during practice, then the injury report placed her as questionable, and soon enough, it was marked unavailable. This marked the seventh game she’s missed out this year. However, that’s not to say the UConn alumna was not involved.

At one point during the second quarter, cameras captured Bueckers calling shots from the Wings bench. When it came to fans’ notice, they were quick to warn the HC about his job being under threat.

Remember when she wore a confused face at one of Koclanes’ plays? The young guard was caught slightly titling her face and rolling her eyes when the coach was drawing up a play against the Golden State Valkyries. The Wings had gone on to drop that game. But that’s not all of her contribution.

While resting during the game against the Aces, she had all kinds of gestures up her sleeves. Waving her hands, instructing her teammates, watching in curiosity — she was invested. You can call it a byproduct of being coach by Geno Auriemma, and all the moments spent courtside due to mutliple injuries.

But it doesn’t have quite the charm as Paige Buckets on the floor. The Wings lost 77-88 to the Liberty, extending that three-game skid to four. It just made fans more upset at her team who’ve felt that the Wings have only been a letdown for the top draft pick of 2025.

Paige Bueckers’ is still batting for her team

Despite an injury-ridden start to her WNBA career, Paige Bueckers is averaging 18.6 points, 5.4 assists, and 1.8 steals. Her stats have not gone lower than second place among the current rookie class, which shows just how strong her offensive abilities are. Unfortunately, the offensive load could re-aggregate her injuries as seen in many cases. And when there are injury concerns, the ire is also directed at referees.

Unlike her girl next door charm, Paige Bueckers is a baddie who is not afraid to take on a ref or two. Previously, while playing against a Caitlin Clark-less Indiana Fever, she challenged officiants on a no-call. Just like Clark, Paige too has called out the WNBA’s officiating.

Even this game, while sitting on the sidelines, Bueckers had a moment where she was batting for Myisha Hines-Allen after a questionable block.

A general on the floor and on the sidelines is exactly the Paige Bueckers we’re used to. She has the chops for an alternate career whenever she wishes too (hopefully way out in the future). This contrasts the team she’s on, however. Fans are campaigning for Dallas Wings to step up and be better for their superstar. And that would mean pulling some miracle with that 8-23 record.