What happened to Paige Bueckers? Dallas Wings star guard's absence against Washington Mystics explored

Paige Bueckers has been everything and perhaps more than what the Dallas Wings anticipated. After a 27-point game against the Indiana Fever, the Wings are bracing for their next game without their rookie star.

According to reports, the Wings are set to miss Bueckers for the Saturday game against the Washington Mystics. The team listed Bueckers out with a right knee injury on their injury report.

The Wings have not had the season they expected with Paige Bueckers on their new roster. They are the 12th seed in the WNBA with a 4-13 record. However, Bueckers has been stellar, showing her elite offensive game.

Bueckers has a history of injuries, which was also one of the concerns for recruiters when she declared for the WNBA draft. In December 2021, the then-UConn star suffered a tibial plateau fracture and lateral meniscus tear during a game against Notre Dame.

Months after she made her return to the court, Bueckers suffered another devastating injury. She tore her ACL during a pickup game in August 2022. On the brighter side, injuries have only made Bueckers mentally stronger. The Wings might not be winning games this season, but Paige Bueckers has given them hope for a bright future.

In 13 games this season, Paige Bueckers has averaged 18.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game. She has shot at 46.1% efficiency from the field, including 33.3% from the 3-point line. Moreover, she has scored in double-digits in all 13 games, including six 20-point games. Bueckers scored her season-high 35 points in a loss against the Phoenix Mercury earlier this month.

Paige Bueckers wants WNBA to prioritize the safety of players

Since 2022, the total number of games in a WNBA regular season has seen a big increase. Compared to 36 games in 2022, this season, each team will play 44 games, four more games than last season. The increasing popularity and the addition of the Golden State Valkyries as the 13th team were big factors in the decision.

With increased total games, teams are playing more games in a shorter span, and Paige Bueckers is not entirely comfortable with the WNBA schedule.

“I think I saw [Satou Sabally] talk about like it's all about player safety and taking care of the players and how they have like nine games in 18 days,” Bueckers told Deja Kelly on “NILOSOPHY” podcast on Friday. “And it's like the WNBA schedule is insane…like have nine games in 18 days in the WNBA.”

“There should be some change…in my instance specifically and other rookies like maybe push the start date back a little bit like the turnaround is insane like crazy and it's not always best for the like the bodies and like I said it's all about product and like we want to look the best and be the best and feel the best.”

Bueckers also raised the concern that with more teams potentially being added in the WNBA, players will have to play more games in a short span.