Dallas Wings Rule Out Paige Bueckers Against Portland Fire Out Of ‘Caution’

PORTLAND, Ore. — Paige Bueckers was downgraded to out and will not play when the Dallas Wings visit the Portland Fire on Saturday, sidelined by a right ankle injury.

Wings coach Jose Fernandez said the guard is considered day-to-day. Guard Odyssey Sims (left ankle) is also out.

Jose Fernandez Calls Paige Bueckers ‘Day-to-Day’

Fernandez framed the move as a matter of caution in a long season and said the decision was made Friday, after the team landed in Portland and Bueckers received treatment.

“I think she’s going to be day-to-day,” Fernandez said. “It’s a long season, and caution is important. After the flight out here, it was the best decision for her to get rest tonight and get healed up.”

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Fernandez said the call crystallized “yesterday when we landed and she got treatment,” and stressed that the priority was Bueckers’ long-term health over one regular-season game.

“We’ve got a long year,” Fernandez said. “Paige is who she is, and trust me, she wants to be on the floor tonight. But the best thing for her longevity, her career, and the franchise is making sure we take care of her and that she takes care of her body.”

Paige Bueckers Powered Through the Ankle Thursday

Paige Bueckers turned the ankle in Thursday’s 85-70 win over the Phoenix Mercury, when she scored a season-high 31 points and stayed in the game after having it taped.

“I kind of rolled it and it gave out a little bit on a rebound,” Bueckers said postgame. “But once it rolls, it rolls right back, so I just had to go in the back and get it taped. Adrenaline is the best drug, so I didn’t really feel it during the game. I just wanted to power through and help the team get a win.”

She had said she would try to have the ankle ready for Saturday.

“I’ll do everything possible to recover and have it feeling better by tomorrow,” Bueckers said after Thursday’s game.

Sims, who has missed the Wings’ last two games, sits out a third straight contest. Bueckers leads the Wings in scoring at 19.8 points and is also averaging 3.6 rebounds and 5.8 assists, leaving Dallas (8-4) shorthanded in the backcourt against a Portland team that entered Saturday at 6-8.

The Wings tip off at the Fire on Saturday, June 13, at 7:30 p.m. CT. The game airs locally on KFAA and streams on WNBA League Pass.

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