Injuries really couldn’t hit Dallas any harder. The Wings were already juggling a full plate of hurt/out. DiJonai Carrington, Luisa Geiselsöder, Ty Harris, Teaira McCowan, and Maddy Siegrist were all stuck on the injury list. And just when fans were taking a deep breath, thinking, “Okay, at least we still have Paige Bueckers,” she was ruled out too. The absolute worst thing that could happen. But if not her, other rookies got it covered. 

The No. 1 overall pick missed her fifth game of the season on Saturday night due to a right knee issue. We know that the Dallas Wings have had a difficult season. However, Bueckers has been a bright spot. In her 12 games so far, she’s averaged 17.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 5.8 assists while playing 35.5 minutes per game. Her absence was expected to affect the team’s energy and rhythm. But surprisingly, it didn’t. In fact, while the team fought on the court, Bueckers brought just as much energy from the sidelines. Even though she wasn’t dressed to play, the Minnesota native showed up in grey sweats and turned into a full-time hype woman for her team.

Throughout the game, Bueckers stayed animated and involved. She reacted strongly to the officiating, especially during the second quarter when teammate NaLyssa Smith was called for a shooting foul. Bueckers immediately stood up, threw her hands out, and visibly disagreed with the call, showing her frustration to the referees from the bench. Later, cameras caught her making another animated gesture after an out-of-bounds call. She was seen using hand motions and facial expressions to show what she thought should have been the call. But the most talked-about moment?

Well, it came from Dallas reporter Landon Thomas’ lens. He captured Bueckers mimicking an opponent’s move. Brittney Sykes, who had just 6 points in her return, was the target. PB got up from the bench, completely mimicked her ‘head flop,’ and even walked toward the court despite ref’s motioning for her to stay seated. She did it with so much flair and sass that her teammates couldn’t help but laugh. And with the Wings in control, they had every reason to smile.

Dallas came out firing and never let up. They jumped to a 28-9 lead after the first quarter and led 45-31 at halftime. The Mystics tried to rally in the second half, but the Wings held firm for a 79-71 win. It wasn’t just the starters getting it done, either. Four Dallas players hit double figures, including two off the bench. Aziaha James stepped up with 15 points in 31 minutes, while Myisha Hines-Allen matched her with 13. JJ Quinerly, who started in place of Bueckers, also scored 15, and Arike Ogunbowale added 14 to keep the momentum rolling.

The win bumped Dallas to 5-13, tying them with the Sparks for sixth in the West.  It’s not the prettiest record, but in a season riddled with injuries, every win matters. As for Bueckers, the Wings haven’t shared when they expect her back. But with the next game not until Thursday, July 3, she’s got a little time to recover and maybe get back to hooping, not just hyping. Given how brutal the WNBA schedule’s been this year, any rest is gold.

Paige Bueckers speaks out on WNBA’s packed schedule 

The WNBA has taken a massive leap forward over the past two seasons. Fan engagement is soaring, viewership records are being shattered, and the league’s biggest stars are now household names. Just recently, when the Indiana Fever took on the Dallas Wings, a record-setting crowd of 20,409 fans filled the arena, making it the largest audience for a professional women’s basketball game in Texas. 

But with more eyes on the league comes a greater responsibility: take care of the players. And that’s exactly what Bueckers wants the league to do. The Dallas Wings rookie may have only played 12 WNBA games so far, but she’s already learning a lot, especially about what needs to change. 

On the Nilosophy podcast, Bueckers opened up about her early experiences in the league and how the WNBA’s current schedule is taking a toll. “There’s a lot of things that go into the CBA, which I’m learning,” she said. “It’s all about player safety and taking care of the players.” Right now, that safety is being compromised, not because of bad intentions, but because of the way the season is structured. The 2025 WNBA Draft took place on April 14, and less than a month later, preseason games were already underway.

Bueckers barely had time to catch her breath before being thrown into the grind of a professional season. The condensed schedule has affected rookies the most, but even veterans have spoken up about fatigue and burnout. Thankfully, there’s hope for change. With the WNBPA and team owners set to meet after the 2025 season to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement, Bueckers’ comments couldn’t come at a better time.

As the league prepares to expand, adding more teams and talent, there’s a golden opportunity to build a better system, one that prioritizes rest, safety, and longevity.