The WNBA’s injury woes continue to pile up. After stars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have already missed time due to injuries, rookie sensation Paige Bueckers became the latest to face a scare during Tuesday night’s matchup between the Dallas Wings and the New York Liberty.
Bueckers briefly left the court in the second half after feeling tightness in her back. While it caused concern among Wings fans, the 22-year-old guard later downplayed the issue, explaining she was just being cautious. “I was just dribbling the ball and just felt a tightness come along,” Bueckers told reporters postgame, per ESPN. “It’s day-to-day. I’m hoping it won’t take me out. Just get some treatment, get some rest.”
The former UConn star returned in the fourth quarter after stretching and receiving massage gun treatment on the bench. Despite the discomfort, she managed to finish the game with an impressive 21 points, eight rebounds, and four assists in Dallas’ 85–76 loss.
“It’s just a pulled muscle. I felt a strain, felt it tighten, so am just getting it worked out,” Bueckers said, adding that the flare-up felt totally “random” and occurred mid-dribble. For now, it doesn’t appear to be something that will sideline her long-term.
Bueckers has already missed five games this season, most recently on June 28 due to a knee issue. Despite the setbacks, she leads Dallas in points (18.5 per game), and assists (5.5).
WNBA stars struggling with injuries
Meanwhile, the league continues to deal with a string of injuries to some of its biggest names. Clark has been sidelined for 15 games due to various muscle injuries, while Angel Reese is also managing a back issue of her own.
Napheessa Collier and Breanna Stewart have also struugled with injuries. It’s been a tough year physically for many of the league’s rising stars, and the trend is raising questions about player workload and scheduling.