The pieces were finally starting to click for the Dallas Wings and standout rookie Paige Bueckers. With three wins in their last five games, momentum seemed to be swinging their way. Even in a recent loss to the Indiana Fever, Bueckers kept her hot streak alive with her fourth 20-plus point performance in five games. She’s been the brightest light in a tough season for Dallas.

Their next matchup was set to be a showdown of rising stars, with Bueckers facing off against the rookie duo of Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron. The last time these teams clashed, it was Citron who stole the spotlight. She dropped a season-high 27 points and nailed the go-ahead three with just 12.2 seconds left in overtime. It was a statement performance, one that edged her ahead in the rookie rivalry and left Bueckers looking to bounce back in the rematch.

But that rematch will have to wait. In a major blow, Bueckers has been ruled out of the Wings’ game against the Washington Mystics due to a knee injury. It’s unclear when she picked it up, but the team insists it’s not serious and is keeping a close eye on her recovery. The timing couldn’t be worse. Dallas is already dealing with a long list of injuries. Maddy Siegrist, DiJonai Carrington, and Tyasha Harris are all out. Luisa Geiselsoder and Teaira McCowan are also away on national team duty in Europe. But losing Bueckers, easily their best player this season, is a brutal hit. She’s been the engine of this team, leading in both points and assists with 17.7 and 5.8 per game.

With playoff hopes fading fast, Bueckers’ absence only adds more weight to an already struggling squad. Arike Ogunbowale is now the lone scoring threat left, but she hasn’t lived up to her usual standards. Her averages are down from 22.2 points per game to 17.1. Her shooting percentage has taken a hit, down from 38.3% to 35.9%. Meanwhile, the Wings’ defense is crumbling, ranked second-worst in the league.

This will not be the first time she has been out, as earlier in the season, she missed four games following a collision with Chicago Sky guard Courtney Vandersloot. Her absence back then already disrupted the Wings’ offensive flow. Now, with other key players lalso injured, the impact of her latest absence feels even more severe. Turning this season around will take a massive effort, and without Bueckers, it feels like a mountain they might not be able to climb.

Was Paige Bueckers Overworked By The Wings Like Caitlin Clark?

There is growing concern that the Dallas Wings may be leaning too heavily on rookie sensation Paige Bueckers, mirroring the workload that Caitlin Clark has faced in her debut season. While the exact timeline of Bueckers’ recent knee injury remains unclear, this marks the second time she has been sidelined this year. 

Much of the scrutiny lies in how much Dallas has relied on Bueckers. She has averaged 35.7 minutes per game this season, which is the most on the team and the fourth-highest in the entire league. No other rookie is logging that many minutes. For comparison, Bueckers averaged just over 30 minutes per game in her final season at UConn. The jump in workload is substantial and may well be a contributing factor to her injury issues.

Caitlin Clark’s rookie year offers a cautionary tale. Like Bueckers, Clark was thrown into a high-usage role and asked to carry the burden of expectation. She began the season with a minor strain in preseason, which developed into a left quad strain that sidelined her for five games. Now, she’s dealing with a groin injury that has no clear timetable for return. Both players are high-profile rookies, both are pivotal to their franchises, and both are now facing injury concerns likely tied to the abrupt and intense transition from college basketball to the WNBA.

This season marks Bueckers’ first real exposure to the grind of a professional basketball schedule. Unlike college, where players often have multiple days of rest and lighter travel demands, the WNBA operates at a much higher pace and intensity. Games are packed closer together, physicality is heightened, and the demand on athletes’ bodies is relentless.

There’s also a broader conversation happening around the league. Many are questioning whether the WNBA’s increasingly condensed and competitive schedule is sustainable, especially for younger players transitioning from college. The expectation that rookies like Bueckers and Clark can play near-maximum minutes night after night without consequence may be unrealistic. The risk is not only in short-term injuries but in potential long-term wear and tear.

In Bueckers’ case, the Wings’ lack of depth due to injuries has likely forced the coaching staff’s hand, but the cost may be showing. Managing talent like hers means not only utilizing her brilliance but also protecting her longevity. The warning signs are there, and if teams aren’t careful, we could see more rising stars sidelined before they’ve had the chance to fully shine.