Paige Bueckers explained her unexpected absence against the Connecticut Sun earlier this week. After going through shootaround and a full pre-game workout, she said her body reacted poorly to an IV before tipoff.
“Just congestion-wise, being able to breathe. I actually planned on playing against Connecticut, but I ended up taking an IV right before the game, and my body kind of rejected it,” Bueckers told Dallas Hoops Journal. “That happened right before, so it was a late scratch. But honestly, I’m ready to go. As long as I can breathe and get up and down the floor, you’ll hear no excuses from me.”
Her return came Friday night in Atlanta, where the Dallas Wings ran out of steam late in a 100-78 loss to the Dream. Bueckers tallied 16 points and matched her career high with 10 assists, recording her second points–assists double-double of the season. She remains the only rookie this year to achieve multiple such performances.
Maddy Siegrist led the Wings with a career-high 23 points on 10-of-17 shooting, adding five rebounds. Amy Okonkwo scored in double figures for the third consecutive game with 11 points, while Dallas fielded just eight available players. Three reserves joined the team within the past eight days on hardship contracts, including former UConn standout Christyn Williams, who signed Friday morning.
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The Wings (9-31) held close for three quarters, trailing only 71-67 entering the fourth, before Atlanta (25-14) outscored them 29-11 in the final frame to secure a playoff berth. Rhyne Howard led the Dream with 24 points, while Allisha Gray added 19.
For Bueckers, the focus remains on making the most of her season with the Wings as they lay the foundation for the future amid elimination from playoff contention. She has averaged 18.9 points, 5.4 assists, and 3.8 rebounds in 32 games this season, including a 44-point effort against the Los Angeles Sparks on Aug. 20.
“I feel like teams are playing me a little bit more, which leaves my teammates more open—more driving lanes for them, more open opportunities to shoot,” Bueckers said. “Especially off the double teams, we can play to those advantages and create opportunities that way.”
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Dallas continues its road trip on Monday against the Minnesota Lynx. Tipoff at Target Center is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET and will air nationally on NBA TV.
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