Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers faces a positive injury update ahead of Friday night’s game against the New York Liberty after fully participating in the team’s morning shootaround.
Bueckers, listed as questionable on Thursday with a back injury, looked like her usual self during Friday’s shootaround and stayed afterward to get extra shots up with teammates. The extended work came as the Liberty opted not to hold a morning shootaround to maximize rest.
She also won the team’s half-court shooting competition, beating out Maddy Siegrist.
Paige Bueckers Dealt With ‘Pulled Muscle’ in New York
Bueckers sustained what she described as a “pulled muscle” during Tuesday’s 85-76 loss in New York, briefly exiting in the third quarter before returning. She finished with 21 points, eight rebounds, and four assists — her fourth consecutive 20-point performance.
“I’m hoping it won’t take me out,” Bueckers said Tuesday. “I’ll get some treatment, get some rest, take some medicine. So I’m hoping it doesn’t take me out.”
Head coach Chris Koclanes said Thursday the rookie guard’s absence from practice was precautionary. “She should be fine for tomorrow,” he said, adding that her status was day to day.
Myisha Hines-Allen is a Game-Time Decision
Forward Myisha Hines-Allen, who missed Tuesday’s matchup with an ankle injury, was a partial participant in shootaround. Although she’s listed as probable to play, the Wings will determine her availability closer to game time.
Hines-Allen said after Thursday’s practice that getting back on the court, even in a limited capacity, was a welcome change.
“It felt good to finally be back on the court again with my teammates,” Hines-Allen said. “This is honestly the first year where I’ve had ankle problems, so that’s frustrating in itself. But knowing my teammates have my back, they want to see me healthy, they want to see me on the court so I can help them. Injuries are never fun, and they’re time-consuming, but to be able to get on the court with them today was amazing.”
Series Finale Set for Friday Night
Friday’s contest at College Park Center is the third and final meeting between the Wings (8-22) and Liberty (19-10) this season, with the series tied 1-1. Dallas won 92-82 on July 30 before New York evened the series earlier this week.
Koclanes said the focus has been on “subtle adjustments” while continuing to build chemistry with a young roster that recently added forward Diamond Miller via trade.
Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT.
More Dallas Wings News & WNBA Rumors
- WNBA News: “We’re Taking a Little Bit of the OKC Model”: Curt Miller on the Dallas Wings’ Roster Approach Around Paige Bueckers, DiJonai Carrington Trade and More
- WNBA News: “Preparing to Be in the Playoffs”: Diamond Miller Settling Into Role With Dallas Wings
- WNBA News: “She Should Be Fine”: Dallas Wings Reveal Paige Bueckers Injury Status for New York Liberty Rematch
- WNBA News: “We Gave Them Too Many Open Shots”: Paige Bueckers Scores 21 as Dallas Wings Fall to New York Liberty After Second Half Slide
- WNBA News: “Hoping It Won’t Take Me Out”: Paige Bueckers Details Back Injury After Dallas Wings’ Loss to New York Liberty
- WNBA News: Dallas Wings’ Paige Bueckers Earns Second Consecutive WNBA Rookie of the Month Honor
- WNBA News: Dallas Wings Trade DiJonai Carrington to Minnesota Lynx, Acquire Diamond Miller, Karlie Samuelson
