Paige Bueckers Questionable For Dallas Wings At Portland; Odyssey Sims Remains Out

PORTLAND, Ore. — Paige Bueckers is questionable to play when the Dallas Wings visit the Portland Fire on Saturday, the team said, listing the guard with a right ankle injury. Guard Odyssey Sims (left ankle) remains out.

Bueckers turned the ankle in Thursday’s 85-70 win over the Phoenix Mercury, when she scored a season-high 31 points and stayed in the game after having the ankle taped.

“I kind of rolled it and it gave out a little bit on a rebound,” Bueckers said. “But once it rolls, it rolls right back, so I just had to go in the back and get it taped. Adrenaline is the best drug, so I didn’t really feel it during the game.”

Paige Bueckers’ Recent Form

Bueckers said she would do everything she could to be ready for the Wings’ next game.

“I’ll do everything possible to recover and have it feeling better by tomorrow,” Bueckers said after Thursday’s game.

The 31-point night was the latest in a strong stretch. Bueckers is averaging 19.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 5.8 assists in 12 games, shooting 52.3% from the field, 42.9% from 3-point range, and 78.6% from the free-throw line for a 62.2 true shooting percentage. She has scored at least 18 points in nine of those games and handed out a season-high 14 assists at the Los Angeles Sparks on June 5, a run of efficient, high-volume play that has anchored the Dallas offense.

Head coach Jose Fernandez has built much of the offense around getting Bueckers to her spots, both on and off the ball.

“There’s a comfort level to her game,” Fernandez said after Thursday’s win. “When she gets going, it’s easy for me to put her in spots, at the elbow, at the nail, posting her up. That’s why she’s one of the best players in the world.”

Fernandez has also emphasized getting Bueckers off the ball at times, a role in which guard JJ Quinerly can help after returning from a lengthy injury layoff.

“We’ve got to get Paige off the ball, and JJ can help us do that,” Fernandez said.

Dallas Wings’ Backcourt Without Odyssey Sims

Dallas is not scheduled to hold a shootaround in Portland, leaving pregame as a key window for an update on Bueckers’ status ahead of tip-off.

Sims, who has missed the Wings’ last two games, is set to sit out a third straight contest. She has been wearing a boot. In her absence, Dallas has mainly used a backcourt rotation of Bueckers, Arike Ogunbowale, Azzi Fudd, and Aziaha James.

The Wings tip off at the Fire on Saturday, June 13, at 7:30 p.m. CT. The game airs locally on KFAA and streams on WNBA League Pass.

More Wings Coverage on Dallas Hoops Journal

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• ‘Feels Good To Be Back Out There’: JJ Quinerly Makes Long-Awaited Return For Dallas Wings
• ‘Having More Connectivity’: Paige Bueckers Details How Dallas Wings Can Respond After Minnesota Lynx Loss
• ‘They Expose You’: Minnesota Lynx’s First-Half Barrage Sinks Dallas Wings In 100-76 Road Loss
• ‘It’s Nostalgic In The Best Ways’: Jessica Shepard, Alanna Smith Return To Minnesota For First Time Since Joining Dallas Wings
• ‘She Was A No-Go Today’: Odyssey Sims Held Out Of Dallas Wings Practice With Ankle Injury
• Aziaha James Avoids Injury, Returns To Dallas Wings Practice After Los Angeles Sparks Scare
• ‘Total Team Effort’: Paige Bueckers Ties Franchise Assist Record, Arike Ogunbowale Scores 30 As Dallas Wings Beat Los Angeles Sparks 104-96