Paige Bueckers is expected to lace up when the struggling Dallas Wings take on playoff hopefuls Los Angeles Sparks at the Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday.
The rookie guard was listed as day-to-day following her back injury earlier this month, but has played in their last game against the Las Vegas Aces. Her availability comes as a massive boost as Dallas looks to end their final string of games on a high. At the time of writing, the Wings are out of the playoff race with a dismal 9-26 record and are 11th in the standings.
Paige Bueckers Expected to Play vs. Sparks
Bueckers was not listed in ESPN’s injury list ahead of the Sparks matchup. This makes her an expected starter barring any last-minute setbacks. However, the Wings have suffered massive injury blows with Arike Ogunbowale (knee) out without a return timetable, and Li Yueru ruled out for the rest of the season with a left knee ACL sprain.
Paige Bueckers and Maddy Siegrist have stepped up, but injuries keep piling on for the Dallas Wings.
Arike Ogunbowale (knee), Li Yueru (ACL), and Tyasha Harris (knee) are all sidelined long-term.
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— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) August 20, 2025
Bueckers comes off an 18-point performance against the Aces. The former UConn star continues to impress with her playmaking and creativity on offense while also being a prime offensive weapon for the Wings. She is averaging 18.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.5 blocks in 28 games and is the frontrunner to win ‘Rookie of the Year’
While there has been debate that Sonia Citron (15.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.4 blocks) is a close contender, Bueckers leads her competition in all stats so far and comes in as the favorite to win the honors.
Per Bleacher Report, Bueckers was not too worried about winning the marquee award. “Being Rookie of the Year is something I can’t control, I don’t get a vote on it,: she said. “So just letting that be what it is and trying to be present with the Dallas Wings and get better and win basketball games is my only focus.”
Read More: Paige Bueckers or Sonia Citron for WNBA ROTY? Fans Give Their Verdict on 2025 Season’s Best Rookie
That said, it has been another forgettable season for the Wings. They went 9-31 last season and are still in the rebuilding phase. Bueckers’ solid first year has been a silver lining for the team, and it remains to be seen if they can have an improved season next year.
The Sparks are coming off a 95-86 loss to the Mystics. LA and Dallas met last week, with the former presiding over a 97-96 win despite Bueckers’ game-high 29 points. The game will tip off at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT and can be watched live on KFAA and SportsNet LA. Fans can also stream the contest live on the WNBA app with a subscription to the WNBA League Pass.
