‘Just Being Careful and Cautious’: Paige Bueckers on Managing Calf Injury Before Dallas Wings Face Minnesota Lynx

Grant AfsethSeptember 1, 2025October 21, 2025no comment

Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images

Paige Bueckers was upgraded from probable to available and is cleared to play Monday night against the Minnesota Lynx, but the Dallas Wings rookie guard acknowledged that her left calf needs to be managed carefully.

“It’s something that I felt after the Atlanta game,” Bueckers told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “So just being cautious, making sure my body’s ready to go. Calves are not something you want to play with, so just being careful and cautious.”

The Wings (9-31) enter the game severely shorthanded. Aziaha James remains sidelined with a right ankle injury suffered last week against Connecticut, where she had 22 points and six assists before going down in the fourth quarter. Arike Ogunbowale (right knee tendonitis), Tyasha Harris (left knee), Luisa Geiselsöder (right shoulder), Haley Jones (right knee), JJ Quinerly (left knee), and Li Yueru (left knee) are also out.

Dallas will dress only eight players — including hardship signees Amy Okonkwo, Christyn Williams, and Serena Sundell — for the sixth time this season, the league’s minimum roster size. Monday marks the 31st game the Wings have played with 10 or fewer players available. They have now lost 121 total player games to injury or overseas commitments.

The Lynx, led by Collier, have clinched the league’s No. 1 seed and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. Dallas, meanwhile, looks to snap a seven-game skid while navigating one of the most injury-depleted rotations in the WNBA.

Bueckers, averaging 18.9 points, 5.4 assists, and 3.8 rebounds this season, previewed the challenge of facing Minnesota for the first time since early in the season, when Dallas saw the Lynx three times in its first nine games. In those meetings, Napheesa Collier dominated by scoring 34 points once and 28 twice, as Minnesota built a 3-0 lead in the season series.

“They’re really disciplined on offense and defense, so making sure we’re disciplined as well,” Bueckers said to DallasHoopsJournal.com. “Obviously, Napheesa is an MVP candidate, so we have to show attention to her, but they’ve got pieces all around the floor. So, scrambling, contesting, making things difficult, making catches difficult, trying to get them out of rhythm. And then offensively, just change sides of the floor, get out in transition, and be really good.”

Paige Bueckers Returns to Minnesota

For Bueckers, who grew up in Hopkins, Minnesota, the trip offers both familiarity and perspective. On Sunday, she and her teammates made time to visit the Minnesota State Fair, giving her a chance to enjoy a tradition she rarely misses.

“It’s fun. Having that home trip early in the season, as you’re just getting comfortable in the league, to have a trip back home where you feel comfortable is great,” she said. “And then at the end, to be able to have that full circle moment — and for it to line up perfectly with the state fair — was awesome.”

Asked about her favorites at the fair, Bueckers didn’t hesitate.

“I’m like a corn dog enthusiast,” she said. “The red velvet Oreos were really good, too, though. I never had those before — those were new for me.”

Chris Koclanes Praises Guard Play, Diamond Miller’s Growth

Head coach Chris Koclanes dismissed any concerns about limiting Bueckers’ minutes despite the calf issue. “No,” he said when asked.

Koclanes credited her offensive versatility, particularly her mid-range game, as a stabilizing force for Dallas. While the league often emphasizes three-pointers and shots at the rim, Bueckers has been elite from mid-range as a reliable option to set the tone for the Wings.

“The analytics trends say layups and threes, but if you’re efficient at that mid-range, can get to your spots, and generate open looks, that’s an efficient shot for a handful of players,” Koclanes said. “We’re lucky to have one of those elite players on our team.”

He added that Bueckers deserves to be mentioned among the league’s best, noting that her production and consistency stack up against top guards across the WNBA. Despite constant defensive pressure, she has remained efficient and impactful, carrying a heavy workload for a roster depleted by injuries. Koclanes emphasized that her ability to balance scoring with playmaking — while drawing multiple defenders on a nightly basis — is the type of impact that warrants All-WNBA recognition.

“It’s got to be up there,” Koclanes told DallasHoopsJournal.com when asked about her chances of earning an All-WNBA spot. “She impacts winning and makes everybody on our team better. And she’s getting everybody’s best look — not just from one defender but multiple defenders. You’ve seen all the clips lately of everyone’s game plan: throw two, three, four, five bodies at her. To be able to handle that, for anybody but especially as a rookie going through this gauntlet the first time, it just speaks volumes about the type of player she is.”

He also noted the contributions of Diamond Miller, acquired from Minnesota earlier this season. She has averaged 3.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 11 games for the Wings this season.

“I’ve appreciated her stick-to-itiveness,” Koclanes said. “To come in with a new group — new terminology, everything different — that can be hard to find your footing. But I’ve liked how she’s continued to show up day in and day out, add to our culture in the locker room, and compete at a high level whenever her number is called.”

Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT at Target Center, with the game televised by NBA TV.

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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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