Paige Bueckers Upgraded to Available for Dallas Wings’ Matchup vs. Atlanta Dream

Grant AfsethAugust 29, 2025August 29, 2025no comment

Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images

The Dallas Wings received a boost ahead of Friday night’s game against the Atlanta Dream, as rookie guard Paige Bueckers has been upgraded to available after missing Wednesday’s contest with an illness.

Bueckers was a late scratch in the 101-95 loss to the Connecticut Sun despite participating in both shootaround and pregame warmups. Her return helps stabilize a Dallas roster that has been stretched thin by injuries, leaving the team reliant on hardship contracts to meet the league’s minimum requirement of eight active players.

Through 31 games this season, Bueckers has averaged 19.0 points, 5.2 assists, and 3.9 rebounds. She has raised her play in recent weeks, posting 20.8 points, 4.4 assists, and 4.0 rebounds over nine games this month.

Updated Dallas Wings Injury Outlook

While Bueckers is back, the Wings will remain without several other contributors. Luisa Geiselsöder (right shoulder), Tyasha Harris (left knee), Aziaha James (right ankle), Haley Jones (right knee), Arike Ogunbowale (right knee), JJ Quinerly (left knee), and Li Yueru (left knee) are all sidelined.

James had erupted for 22 points against Connecticut before exiting late with her ankle injury, while Jones has been an extended starter after originally joining the team on a hardship deal. Ogunbowale and Harris have both missed significant stretches, and Quinerly and Li are out for the season with ACL injuries.

As part of their preparation on Friday, the Wings replaced their usual morning shootaround with a film session and walk-through at the team hotel. Such a change has become a growing trend around the WNBA, as more teams follow the NBA model of canceling morning shootarounds to conserve energy. Dallas has typically continued to hold them with its young roster but opted for a different approach ahead of tonight’s game.

Hardship Reinforcements

To offset the injury toll, Dallas signed former UConn standout Christyn Williams to an extreme hardship contract and re-signed forward Amy Okonkwo to a second seven-day hardship deal on Friday. Williams, who played two seasons alongside Bueckers in college, returns to the WNBA after previous stints with the Phoenix Mercury and Minnesota Lynx.

Okonkwo has emerged as one of the team’s most impactful hardship additions. She has averaged 11.3 points in her first three appearances and has drawn praise from teammates and coaches for her energy and adaptability.

Serena Sundell also joined Dallas on a hardship deal earlier this week. After just one practice and shootaround to get acclimated, she logged two minutes in her debut against the Sun.

Dallas Wings Face Road Test in Atlanta

The Wings (9-30) begin a four-game road trip against a Dream team fighting for playoff positioning. Atlanta (24-14) is coming off a narrow 81-75 home loss to the Las Vegas Aces on Wednesday.

The Dream holds a 2-1 lead in the season series. In their last meeting on July 30, Bueckers matched Atlanta’s Naz Hillmon with 21 points in an 88-85 Wings defeat.

Tipoff at Gateway Center Arena is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT, with the game airing nationally on ION.

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Grant Afseth

Senior Writer

Grant Afseth is a Senior Writer for DallasHoopsJournal.com, where he leads in-depth coverage of the Mavericks, Wings, and more. Between a focus on the latest news, closer looks at games, front office strategy, and more, Afseth provides objective coverage. Afseth contributes broader NBA coverage across platforms and has been cited in national outlets for his reporting and analysis. With nearly a decade of journalism experience, Afseth has covered the NBA and WNBA for multiple major outlets, including Athlon Sports, BallIsLife, Sportskeeda, and RG.org. He previously reported on the Indiana Pacers for CNHI’s Kokomo Tribune and the Mavericks for FanNation.

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