Paige Bueckers is primed to have a breakout year with the Dallas Wings. Her season debut wasn’t great, but first-game jitters are tough for any rookie. Bueckers played 30 minutes and showed flashes of what she can do, but the Wings fell to the Minnesota Lynx 99-84.
Bueckers finished with 10 points and two assists. She also grabbed seven rebounds, showing she’s willing to crash the boards and make hustle plays. With her first WNBA game in the books, the NCAA champ now turns to what’s next: the rest of the season.
The Wings have three big games this week, starting with tonight’s matchup against the Seattle Storm. They’ll play the Lynx again later this week before facing the Atlanta Dream over Memorial Day weekend.
Will Paige Bueckers Play Against The Seattle Storm?
The matchup against the Storm will be intriguing, as both teams are vying for their first win of the season. Arike Ogunbowale will be crucial to assisting the Wings get a victory, while Bueckers will be expected to perform stronger than she did in her first game.
🚨 PAIGE BUECKERS FIRST WNBA POINTS 🚨
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With this being a pivotal game, all signs point to Bueckers being able to play against the Storm, as she is not officially listed on the injury report. Bueckers’s presence in the Wings’ lineup will increase their chances of securing a victory, but the Storm will also come out with their best effort.
Seattle will rely on veteran Skylar Diggins-Smith to lead the way. Nneka Ogwumike had a challenging first game against the Phoenix Mercury, but she’ll look to bounce back against the Wings.
The Keys To Winning for the Wings
So, what do the Wings need to do to get the win? It starts with Bueckers and Ogunbowale. Bueckers should have the ball in her hands more, and Ogunbowale needs to stay aggressive and look to score early.
Bueckers also needs to take more shots, as the Storm defense will likely give her some open looks. DiJonai Carrington will be another key factor. She had 15 points against the Lynx, and if she can do that again, the Wings will be in good shape.
One last rotational piece that should significantly contribute to the Wings’ win is forward Myisha Hines-Allen. Her defense and ability to score at times will aid Dallas in its success. Will Bueckers and the Wings get their first win tonight? We’ll find out soon enough.