‘By Committee’: Dallas Wings Face New York Liberty Without Paige Bueckers Amid Back Injury

The Dallas Wings will be without guard Paige Bueckers on Friday night against the New York Liberty, but Myisha Hines-Allen is set to return after missing Tuesday’s matchup with an ankle injury.

Bueckers, who was initially listed as questionable, is sidelined with the back injury she sustained Tuesday in New York. She described it afterward as a “pulled muscle” that briefly forced her out of the game before she returned to finish with 21 points, eight rebounds, and four assists.

Bueckers’ status wasn’t known until close to gametime. However, after she did not go through her usual pre-game routine, it became clear that she was ultimately going to be downgraded to out for this game. Dallas hosts the Washington Mystics for a Sunday afternoon game. Considering the quick turnaround time, it’s likely that was part of the consideration.

Adjusting Without Paige Bueckers

Replacing Bueckers’ production will be a collective effort. She’s scored 20 or more points in four consecutive games and is averaging 18.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 5.4 assists on the season.

Maddy Siegrist, who recently returned from her own injury, said the Wings will have to rely on multiple players to fill the void.

“No one’s going to be able to do what she does, obviously,” Siegrist said. “We’ve had a lot of different people bring up the ball recently, so I think that honestly helps. But it’s definitely by committee.”

Haley Jones said her own role will shift significantly without Bueckers in the lineup.

“I think that Paige brings a lot with facilitating, playmaking, or scoring herself,” Jones said. “I’ve been in a facilitating role, so today without her, I have to think more aggressively, get on the rim more, and be more of a primary ball handler—not just facilitating.”

Grace Berger echoed the “by committee” mindset, noting that her focus will be on providing additional ball handling.

“I don’t think one person can replace Paige,” Berger said. “I’m going to go out there and try to be another ball handler since she handles the ball a lot for us. I’ll just try to play my game, not try to be Paige—nobody can do that.”

Myisha Hines-Allen Back Returns for the Dallas Wings

Hines-Allen, who missed the last game with an ankle injury, was upgraded from probable to active after being a partial participant in shootaround.

She said Thursday that returning to the court, even in practice, was a meaningful step forward.

“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 on the Line

Friday’s game at College Park Center is the third and final meeting between Dallas (8-22) and New York (19-10) this season, with the series tied 1-1. The Wings won 92-82 on July 30 before the Liberty evened the series earlier this week.

Tipoff is set 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