Paige Bueckers has continued to shine for the Dallas Wings after winning WNBA Rookie of the Year honors in 2025, helping lead the team to an 8-5 record and third place in the Western Conference standings ahead of Saturday's matchup against the Portland Fire.
Bueckers is coming off her best performance of the season in Thursday's 85-70 victory over the Phoenix Mercury, helping Dallas bounce back from a 100-76 loss to the Minnesota Lynx and secure its fifth win in six games.
However, Bueckers briefly worried fans in the second quarter when she limped to the locker room after appearing to hurt her ankle while battling for a rebound. Although the injury did not seem serious and she returned to the game, her status for Saturday's contest remains uncertain.
Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
The Wings announced Friday that Bueckers was listed as questionable, suggesting the team is taking a cautious approach with its franchise star.
Still, Bueckers downplayed any concerns after Thursday's win.
“I’m feeling great. I just had to go get some ankle tape. I think it touched earth, but it rolls and it rolls right back, so we’re all good,” Bueckers said with a smile in the postgame interview.
Those comments, along with the way she performed after returning to the floor, indicate the injury is unlikely to be serious. While Dallas may choose to be cautious, there is optimism that the 24-year-old will be available against Portland, even if her workload is managed.
Bueckers finished with a season-high 31 points, six rebounds, and five assists against the Mercury while shooting 14-of-20 from the field and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. But what mattered more was getting the win.
“We’re trying to be a resiliency team,” she said, via Natalya Shelton of Dallas Hoos Journal. “You’re not going to win every game in this league. It’s about what you do the next game, what you do the next possession and how you respond to adversity.”
For the season, Bueckers is averaging 19.8 points, 5.8 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game while shooting 52.3% from the field and 43.9% from three-point range. She remains central to the Wings' playoff aspirations as the franchise looks to build on last season's turnaround and establish itself among the WNBA contenders.
