Dallas Wings' Bueckers clears concussion, sits vs. Liberty
Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers does not have a concussion and will sit out Monday's game against the New York Liberty after a scary late collision in Sunday's win over the Los Angeles Sparks, the team said. She was cleared after an extensive postgame evaluation but still has soreness, and her availability going forward is unclear.
Key Takeaways
- The Dallas Wings confirmed Bueckers was cleared of a concussion and is not in the WNBA concussion protocol.
- She will miss Monday's matchup with the New York Liberty while dealing with lingering soreness.
- Bueckers exited Sunday's 90-82 win over the Sparks with 3.5 minutes left after hitting the back of her head on the floor.
- Dallas is on a franchise-record six-game winning streak and has Bueckers slated to start the All-Star Game on Saturday, pending further updates.
What happened to Paige Bueckers against the Sparks?
According to ESPN, Bueckers left the court after Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike, who was fouled, collided with her while falling. Bueckers hit the back of her head on the floor and needed help leaving late in the fourth quarter of Dallas's 90-82 home win.
Bleacher Report reported she was playing defense when the contact happened and appeared to hold her head afterward. Before exiting, Bueckers had 25 points on 10-of-18 shooting, plus five assists and four rebounds. Arike Ogunbowale added 20 points as the Wings closed out the victory without their star down the stretch.
Why is this a big deal for the Dallas Wings?
Bueckers has been central to the Dallas Wings' turnaround, averaging 20.9 points, 6.2 assists and 4.2 rebounds this season. ESPN noted she has been selected to start the All-Star Game on Saturday. Bleacher Report added that her play has helped Dallas to a 17-8 start and fourth place in the WNBA after a 10-34 finish a year ago.
Sunday's win stretched the Wings' streak to six games, a franchise record since the team moved to Dallas. Monday's Liberty game was itself a makeup after New York's charter flight had mechanical issues Thursday. Fans following celebrity breaking news will watch how long the soreness keeps her sidelined.
Will Bueckers play again before the All-Star break?
The Wings said her availability moving forward has yet to be determined. After Monday, Dallas plays at Portland on Wednesday before the All-Star break. With Bueckers out Monday, Bleacher Report said the backcourt load falls heavily on Ogunbowale and Azzi Fudd, who are each averaging 13.3 points per game.
For now, the clearest update is the one that calms the worst fears: no concussion diagnosis, no concussion protocol, but rest for soreness against the Liberty while the team monitors how she responds.