TheDallas Wings may finally be seeing a light at the end of a difficult tunnel. After a rocky 1-7 start to the 2025 WNBA season and a depleted backcourt, the team is inching closer to welcoming back star rookie Paige Bueckers, who has missed the last two games due to concussion protocol.
Bueckers, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft, has been a crucial part of the Wings‘ setup early in the season. Her absence was immediately felt as the team struggled to maintain offensive fluidity and close out games – a problem magnified during their recent collapse against the Seattle Storm, where they failed to hold on to a 10-point lead.
However, optimism returned to the practice court on Thursday when reporter Melissa Triebwasser noted that Bueckers was present and taking part in light activities. While she has not yet been cleared for full basketball activity, she was seen riding a stationary bike, a key early stage in the WNBA’s concussion protocol process.
This encouraging development has fans hoping she could return as early as this weekend against the Los Angeles Sparks.
Dallas desperate for leadership and stability as Bueckers eyes return
The Wings entered 2025 hoping to rebound from a disappointing 9-31 campaign last year. But under new head coach Chris Koclanes, the team has stumbled out of the gate, compounded by a string of injuries. With both Bueckers and Tyasha Harris sidelined, Dallas has been operating with minimal depth at the point guard position.
“There really is no point guard active right now,” Koclanes admitted before their loss to Seattle. “JJ [Quinerly] off the bench is really our only true point guard … she really hasn’t been a point guard since high school.”
This lack of direction has made it difficult for the Wings to execute down the stretch, resulting in missed opportunities despite competitive performances.
Bueckers had been averaging 14.7 points, 6.7 assists (fourth in the WNBA), 4.5 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block per game prior to her injury – numbers that speak to her all-around influence. Among rookies, she leads in scoring and continues to show the poise and court vision that made her a generational prospect at UConn.
Her return would give Dallas an immediate boost not just in terms of statistics, but in leadership and composure. The Wings are not alone in struggling early – last season, Caitlin Clark led a similar turnaround for the Indiana Fever after a poor start, eventually reaching the playoffs.
With the Sparks game just around the corner, Bueckers‘ status remains officially day-to-day, but her presence at practice marks a significant step forward. Should she clear the remaining stages of concussion protocol in time, Dallas could finally have the engine it needs to shift gears this season.
One thing is clear: the Wings are counting on their star rookie to help turn things around – and with Bueckers potentially back on the floor, that turnaround might begin this weekend.
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