The Dallas Wings are riding high with an 8-4 record, sitting third in the Western Conference. But when they stepped onto the court against the Portland Fire on Saturday, their star was nowhere near the action. Paige Bueckers, the reigning Rookie of the Year and the No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, was held out with an ankle injury she suffered during Thursday’s win over the Mercury.
From the outside, sitting a player who’s averaging 19.8 points and nearly six assists per game might seem like a gamble. But Wings head coach Jose Fernandez isn’t playing the short game. Speaking before tip-off, as reported by ESPN’s Kendra Andrews, Fernandez made it clear this was a decision about the bigger picture.
“It’s a long year,” Fernandez said. “Paige wants to be on the floor tonight, but the best thing for her longevity, for her career, for the franchise is her making sure we take care of her and she takes care of her body.”
Bueckers had suited up for all 12 games this season before the injury, continuing the dominance she flashed as a rookie. Last year, she won Rookie of the Year, earned an All-Star nod, and landed on the All-WNBA second team. This season, she’s been even sharper, shooting 52.3 percent from the field and an impressive 42.9 percent from three-point range.
The move to rest Bueckers against the Fire isn’t just about one game. It’s a signal that the Wings are thinking about June basketball, not just a Saturday afternoon in May. Dallas has a real shot at contending this season, and keeping their franchise cornerstone healthy through the grind is priority one.
Fans online noted the cautious approach, with many praising the team for prioritizing player health over a single regular-season win. The team has not confirmed how long Bueckers might be out, but the early signs suggest this is a precautionary move rather than a long-term concern.
The Wings have depth to lean on while Bueckers recovers, but her absence is a reminder of how quickly momentum can shift in a league where one star’s ankles can change a team’s entire trajectory. For now, Dallas is betting that a little rest now will pay off big when the postseason arrives.
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