The Dallas Wings dropped their eighth consecutive game on Monday night, suffering a 96-71 defeat on the road against the Minnesota Lynx — the hometown team of Paige Bueckers. It’s the fourth time during this losing streak that the Wings have lost by at least 19 points. With a current record of 9-32, they now sit below last season’s 9-31 finish.
Paige Bueckers was listed as probable ahead of the game due to a calf injury but was cleared to play. She logged 29 minutes and scored 17 points. Prior to tip-off, Bueckers addressed her latest injury and acknowledged the risks associated with competing while managing a calf issue.
“It’s something that I felt after the Atlanta game,” Bueckers said. “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.”
Calf injuries have become a serious talking point in basketball this year. The issue gained national attention when Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers attempted to push through a calf strain—only to suffer a devastating Achilles tear during Game 7 of the NBA Finals. With the NBA experiencing a sharp increase in Achilles-related injuries during the 2024-25 season, any calf issue is now treated with extreme caution.
Back in December, Luka Dončić of the Dallas Mavericks faced his own calf setback, which sparked internal tension between his personal trainers and the team’s medical staff over his recovery timeline. That disagreement ultimately contributed to his high-profile trade a few months later. Fortunately, the Dallas Wings are far from reaching that level of turmoil with Paige Bueckers. After a turbulent year of watching young stars get traded away, Dallas fans have little patience left for another franchise-altering move.
Calf injuries have become a serious talking point in basketball this year. The issue gained national attention when Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers attempted to push through a calf strain—only to suffer a devastating Achilles tear during Game 7 of the NBA Finals. With the NBA experiencing a sharp increase in Achilles-related injuries during the 2024-25 season, any calf issue is now treated with extreme caution.
Should Paige Bueckers Even be Playing?
With the Wings’ season already spiraling down the drain, it’s fair to wonder if Bueckers should even be playing. They have the league’s worst record and are guaranteed to finish with the best odds for the top pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft: a 40% chance.
Leave a Reply