Every time there’s a player the world wants to see, somehow, she’s the one limping off. Call it a bad omen or just the weight of being a #1 pick during the W’s surge, but Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark are turning marquee matchups into Murphy’s Law in a jersey. Moreover, the two are always in the headlines but rarely together. Caitlin Clark was already ruled out for August 1 with a right groin injury. Any hopes of a  rematch after the 12th July showdown were crushed.

What’s worse is that the Wings had gone all in for the preparation. They even gave the event a Hollywood-style name: “The Sequel,” in hopes to recover from the 102-83 loss. They had upgraded from the cozy 7,000-seat College Park Center to the 20,000-seat American Airlines Center (home of the Mavericks and Stars). It was a smart move considering the last time these two met, 20,409 fans were screaming in the arena.

Well, the fans were loud this time too, alright. Just not for the reasons Dallas expected. With 3:49 left in the third, Paige Bueckers took a hard fall, and things unraveled fast. Lexie Hull reached out to help. However, Paige Bueckers was visibly irritated. She just walked it off, literally and emotionally. Seconds later, she was on the bench, breaking down with her head down. Enter Wings Contract Athletic Trainer Allison Russell who tried to console her with a hand on the back, but nothing seemed to land. “It’s difficult, but at the same time, I want to play 40 minutes,” Bueckers once said. “I want to play every single game.”

When unexpected hits like these take place, the body language said everything: frustration, helplessness, and flat-out rejection of the bench life. She went out after contributing 22 PTS, 4 REB, 4 AST and from there on, Haley Jones checked in. There is a silver lining though. Paige Buecker’s walk to the bench suggested the injury wasn’t too serious. Moreover, Dallas-based reporter, Grant Afseth confirmed that she returned from the locker room shortly after. Though Scott Agness noted she was still in visible pain. For now, it’s a waiting game because August is supposed to be Paige’s takeover month.

Yep, “takeover month,” because the season has already slipped through her hands. It all began with a concussion protocol that ruled her out against Chicago on 31st May. That absence stretched across two more games: against the Storm and the Sparks. When she was finally cleared, fans hoped the drought was over. But just as she geared up to face the league-leading Lynx, illness struck. “Just dealing with an illness and being extremely cautious and supportive as an organization,” Wings head coach Chris Koclanes said. “We hope to have her back soon.”

She was back, for the Commissioner’s Cup battle. And for a stretch, it felt like she’d turned a corner, until she missed the June 29 matchup against the Mystics. No details were given at the time, only that it involved her right knee. The timing was especially frustrating, as it came just one day after she dropped 27 points and dished out six assists. Earlier Bueckers had confirmed something that many suspected to be the reason, though. “I’ve been dealing with patellar tendonitis since I was in high school,” she had said. “It’s something you manage constantly. There’s probably never a day it doesn’t hurt.”

Still, she battled through it all, and suited up consistently for nearly a month. Then came July 27th, the Wings ruled her out again against the Aces. “Wings guard Paige Bueckers has been ruled out for tomorrow’s game against the Las Vegas Aces. The Wings are resting her,” reported Taylor. And that, in a nutshell, has been the pattern of Paige’s rookie season: flashes of brilliance, interrupted by frustrating resets. It’s totally opposite from how she suits up during the team practices.

The Paige Bueckers Rollercoaster

Seeing her during team practices, nobody can guess that Paige Bueckers is dealing with a season full of constant resets. Instead, she has been the energy of the gym. She has been delivering killer performances on game nights but more than that she has been goofing around with playful air jabs during drills. Right before the Fever game, she caught everyone off guard when she suddenly stopped mid-drill and started throwing shadow punches, like she was prepping for some kind of boxing match.

The Wings franchise posted clips to hype their squad up and dubbed them with “War ready.” There was no actual opponent, just Paige, her imagination, and a whole lot of pent-up energy. With a bounce in her step and a big grin, she turned an easy practice day into a full-on comedy show. The whole bit was so convincing that her teammates couldn’t stop laughing, and fans online ate it up. It was a rare, lighthearted moment from someone who’s usually all business on the court.

“A little levity goes a long way,” one report noted, and for Paige, it perfectly shows the kind of teammate she’s growing into. She has been keeping things fun while staying completely focused, just like a true leader as Chris Koclanes calls her. Yeah, her real “punches” come in the form of no-look dimes and clutch buckets, but don’t be shocked if “Paige the Puncher” starts blowing up online. She’s a whole mood after all.