Paige Bueckers’ Injury Status Uncertain as Dallas Wings Face Connecticut Sun After Sitting Out Practice

Grant AfsethAugust 26, 2025August 26, 2025no comment

Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings, Los Angeles Sparks, WNBa

Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

The Dallas Wings could be without rookie guard Paige Bueckers when they host the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday night at College Park Center.

Bueckers, who has been the centerpiece of Dallas’ offense in her first WNBA season, did not practice Tuesday due to illness and is officially listed as questionable. The update comes just two days after her streak of 30 consecutive double-digit scoring games ended in Sunday’s loss to the Golden State Valkyries. She has averaged 19.0 points, 5.2 assists, and 3.9 rebounds in 31 games this season.

The Wings continue to operate under the weight of a relentless injury toll. Tyasha Harris, Arike Ogunbowale, JJ Quinerly and Li Yueru remain sidelined with knee injuries, leaving Dallas without four rotation players. Yueru was acquired in a midseason trade but has also been ruled out for the rest of the season. Myisha Hines-Allen did not practice Tuesday for personal reasons but was not included on the report.

Serena Sundell Settles In Quickly

To offset those losses, Dallas signed Serena Sundell to a hardship contract. The 6-foot-2 guard went through her first practice Tuesday and said she is focused on embracing whatever role is asked of her.

“I’m super excited for the opportunity to come into a team that I can be a gap filler for,” Sundell told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “I’ve been here less than 24 hours, but I just want to come in with a great attitude and be that player that’s going to fill the gaps of whatever’s asked from me.”

Sundell entered the WNBA after a decorated career at Kansas State, where she graduated as the program’s all-time assists leader. She earned First Team All-Big 12 honors twice over her four years with the Wildcats, adding AP and WBCA All-America Honorable Mention accolades as a senior in 2024-25. The Missouri native averaged 14.1 points and 7.3 assists while shooting over 50 percent from the field during her final season. Selected 26th overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft by the Seattle Storm, Sundell was waived just before the regular season began. She most recently played for the 2025 USA 3×3 Women’s Nations League Team in Chile this past July.

Head coach Chris Koclanes explained that Sundell’s poise stood out immediately, noting that her size and pace at the guard position could be valuable in easing the pressure on Dallas’ thinned backcourt.

“With Serena, it was a good first practice,” Koclanes emphasized to DallasHoopsJournal.com. “She has great size at the guard position and plays at her own speed. Hopefully she can continue to do that when she gets opportunities with us.”

Forward Luisa Geiselsöder added that she noticed the same qualities after working with Sundell for the first time. She said her ability to dictate pace and organize the offense should provide stability.

“She has great size at the guard position, and she looks very composed,” Geiselsöder said to DallasHoopsJournal.com. “You can see she plays at her own pace, which is important. I think she’ll bring us another option in the backcourt, more organization, and help with ball handling.”

Amy Okonkwo, another hardship addition who has already contributed back-to-back double-digit scoring games, has also impressed the coaching staff. Koclanes said her ability to stretch the floor and attack closeouts gives the Wings an extra dimension.

“She can pick and pop to spread the floor, but she also has a quick first step,” Koclanes explained to DallasHoopsJournal.com. “She can attack, get into the paint, and finish.”

Dallas Wings Lean on Resilience

While newcomers have provided much-needed support, veterans have stressed the importance of maintaining perspective in a season where injuries have defined the roster. Hines-Allen said that the team has had to adjust night after night but remains focused on competing.

“This is the first year I’ve dealt with so many injuries during the season,” Hines-Allen said. “Everyone’s bodies are tired across the league, not just us. It’s part of the game, but somebody always steps up. Nobody feels sorry for us, so it’s about who puts on the jersey and gives energy, whether on the court or the bench.”

Haley Jones echoed those thoughts, pointing out that the team’s chemistry has not wavered even as lineups change constantly. She said the players have stayed accountable to one another and leaned on that connection.

“Our locker room is still together,” Jones told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “Even with all the injuries, everybody is supportive. We hold each other accountable, and we’re still having fun with it. That’s the biggest thing — nobody’s hanging their head. We’re all in this together.”

Koclanes acknowledged that the grind of the season has challenged execution and focus, but he emphasized that the group’s determination has not slipped.

“Physical fatigue shows up mentally, and that leads to lapses in the scouting report and breakdowns in execution,” Koclanes said. “It forces us to be sharper about our identity. We can’t look at what we don’t have. We have to look at what we do have, and that’s a group that can still compete.”

The Wings (9-29) will try to channel that resilience against the Sun (9-28), who arrive led by Eastern Conference Player of the Week Tina Charles. While Connecticut has won consistently in Dallas in recent years, the spotlight will be on whether Bueckers is cleared to play.

Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CT at College Park Center.

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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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