"Getting sick wasn't ideal" - Paige Bueckers gets candid on returning from injury ahead of crucial game for Dallas Wings

At the end of May, Paige Bueckers was placed in concussion protocol after the Dallas Wings' 97-92 loss to the Chicago Sky. While Bueckers was cleared to return to action on Sunday for the Wings' clash with the Minnesota Lynx, the No. 1 pick was dealing with an illness that kept her on the sidelines.

Now, with Dallas rolling out a barebones roster for Wednesday's game against the Mercury given that Ty Harris is out with a knee injury and both Teaira McCowan and Luisa Geiselsöder are playing in EuroBasket, Bueckers is set to make her return.

On Tuesday, she and DiJonai Carrington did a joint media session after practice, where Bueckers was a full participant. During the scrum, the rookie sensation said:

"There's no better medicine than rest, so getting sick wasn't ideal, but just to give your body a little bit of break.

"I know the turnaround was fast from college to here ... I never want to miss games but try to look at the positives of everything that happens to you, so to be able to get a little bit of downtime I think did wonders for my body."

Following Wednesday's game with the Mercury, Paige Bueckers and the Wings will be back in action again on Friday when they collide with the Las Vegas Aces.

"What the f**k is going on?" - Kelsey Plum opens up on post-game exchange with trash-talking Paige Bueckers

While Paige Bueckers has been sidelined with a concussion, and an illness, the No. 1 pick has been on the bench for several of Dallas' games.

On Friday, after the Wings came up short against the LA Sparks, Bueckers was seen talking with two-time champ Kelsey Plum. While it's unclear what Bueckers said as she put her arm around Plum and pointed to the baseline, when the camera panned over to the Sparks guard as she walked away, Plum was baffled:

"I'll remember this day. Rookies talking s**t is crazy. The rookies are built different here. They don't even carry their loops anymore. What the f**k is going on?"

While Bueckers missed Friday's clash between the Sparks and the Wings, the two teams will face off again three more times this season. Their next meeting will take place in Dallas on Aug. 15, with the regular-season series then shifting to LA for games on Aug. 20 and Sept. 7.

About the author

Evan Bell is a journalist specializing in the NBA and NHL at Sportskeeda, whose love for the game stems from a childhood spent watching the Chicago Bulls. He has been there through their highs and lows, from the Jordan era to the exciting Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah years.

Evan finds the 82-game season and the intensity of playoff basketball exhilarating, and he also revels in the offseason drama. Phil Jackson stands out as his favorite coach, whom he admires for his composed leadership and success in managing dynamic personalities like Dennis Rodman.

To deliver top-quality content, Evan fact-checks information while diligently keeping up with the action year-round.

When he's not writing, Evan follows tennis and Greek football, and also plays basketball and tennis.

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Edited by Rajdeep Barman