Entering its second season, Unrivaled has already confirmed Paige Bueckers’s spot on its star-studded roster. But we didn’t have to wait for announcements to know that the Bueckers would be debuting this season. She had already signed a three-year deal with Unrivaled back in April, after previously serving as one of the league’s first college player ambassadors under a Name, Image, and Likeness agreement. She is also an investor in the league. And if sources are to be believed, first-year salary with Unrivaled “will exceed what she would make in four years of her WNBA rookie contract.” While all that sounds really good on paper, the question is, should the standout rookie even be playing in the 3×3 league? 

Bueckers, the Dallas Wings’ standout rookie, has already faced a string of health challenges that have followed her from college into the WNBA. During her debut season, she missed eight games due to a mix of injuries and load management. Early in the season, she sat out four games—three because of a concussion and one due to illness after clearing concussion protocol. On top of that, back soreness and a right knee issue further limited her court time. These setbacks come after a separate history of injuries while at UConn, which included a torn ACL in 2022 and a tibial plateau fracture in 2021, all speaking to the chronic nature of her knee issues. 

The Wings as a team have felt the ripple effect of these absences. Over the 2025 season, Dallas missed a staggering 136 player-games due to injuries and national team duties, including five season-ending injuries. The roster was stretched thin at times, with only three healthy guards available for several games, forcing the team to field a league-record 18 different starting lineups and rotate through 21 players over the season. Beuckers, already named the Rookie of the Year with her 19.2 PPG, has been a key stabilizing factor, and her absence is felt on both ends of the court. Unrivaled, on the other hand, is notorious for getting its players injured. If we’re to go by what happened last season, Bueckers’ debut is anything but to be celebrated. 

Injuries shaped Unrivaled’s first season in unpredictable ways. Connecticut Sun’s Marina Mabrey suffered a calf injury before the league even started in January, her second setback in just a few months after spraining her ankle during the Sun’s playoff game against the Lynx, forcing her Phantom BC teammates, including Sabrina Ionescu, Natasha Cloud, Katie Lou Samuelson, Satou Sabally, and Brittney Griner, to play without her. 

New York Liberty forward Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, who joined as a relief player for Laces BC, tore her meniscus in March after just two appearances and will be sidelined for 5–6 months, well into the 2025 WNBA season. Even Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky missed the championship match after reinjuring her wrist, a recurring problem from her WNBA play. Still, the league’s charm is easy to understand. 

The league is now valued at $340 million and will expand from 36 to 48 players with the addition of two new six-player teams. A six-player development pool will also step in to cover injuries, ensuring rosters stay competitive. Games will be played four days a week, with each team appearing twice in seven days, while back-to-back matchups have been removed. For someone like Paige Bueckers, the league offers more than just competition: bigger paychecks, national exposure, and a chance to make her mark in a fast, skill-driven 3-on-3 format that pushes players in ways traditional 5-on-5 doesn’t. But only if fans saw it this way, too. 

“Isn’t she injured a lot?”: Fans express concern over Paige Bueckers’ Unrivaled commitment

“Isn’t she injured ALOT… Or needs extra rest?” One user asked on X, bringing to light a common sentiment amongst fans who understand that Bueckers wasn’t completely healthy during her rookie year,  thus missing eight games.

It’s not a good look to be citing load management in your first year playing pro, only to turn around and compete in another league during the off-season. One fan summarized the situation quite perfectly. “That’s our girl, but she’s a rookie that couldn’t play back to backs and doesn’t need the money or exposure. I just pray for her health going forward, but I’m scared.” So, it is rare that fans would be happy about the risks involved in playing Unrivaled. No. The answer’s no, and for good reason too. The reason why fans are taking to social media. It might be good for the new league, but a potential risk of strain for the Dallas Wings star.

This was just the more… thoughtful demographic, however, as some fans weren’t amused with her decision-making. “Injury-prone player wants to play in an injury-prone exhibition league that ends very close to the beginning of the WNBA season. Sounds smart!” A fan said quite sarcastically as they didn’t take kindly to the risk involved and many users agreed with this sentiment.

“Paige Bueckers will be INJURED OFTEN IN 2026 AND MISS GAMES, due to foolishly competing in the Unrivaled League this winter 2025!” Another user on X said. It’s important to note that Paige Bueckers isn’t dealing with acute injuries either; they’re long-term.

“I’ve been dealing with patellar tendonitis since I was in high school. And it is, in a sense of you’re managing it, at all times. There’s no day where it probably doesn’t hurt.” The star had explained while missing a game on July 2nd due to knee soreness.

A fan pointed out on X that the game speed and style are completely different, and don’t even translate to the big leagues! “It’s 3 on 3, we seen it didn’t translate to much when Angel Reese came in fresh off the unrivaled season and still couldn’t hit a wide open layup. A league where girls already cry about back-to-backs and can’t stay healthy wants to play more games.” They said.

Dealing with a chronic knee injury is not easy, even if she’s only playing in the W. We definitely don’t need to see the effects of another league added on top of that. Still, at the end of the day, it’s the player’s call. I can’t fault Paige Bueckers for making the best out of every opportunity she gets. But, here’s hoping she comes out of it unscathed!