What happened to Paige Bueckers? Wings star held out of Saturday's game vs. Fire with injury

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Around a quarter-way into the 2026 WNBA season, the Dallas Wings are looking like contenders once again.

Off to an 8-4 start after winning just 10 games in 2025, the Wings' guard trio of Paige Bueckers, Arike Ogunbowale and Azzi Fudd has been as good as advertised. But on Saturday against the Fire, the leading scorer of that bunch will be sidelined.

Bueckers was ruled out against Portland pregame, putting her status into question moving forward.

Here's what's known about Bueckers' injury.

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What happened to Paige Bueckers?

Bueckers was ruled out of Saturday's game against Portland shortly before tip-off, a downgrade that wasn't originally anticipated but the team attributed to right ankle injury.

Per Kendra Andrews, Wings head coach Jose Fernandez said that Bueckers' ankle injury occurred during the second quarter of Thursday's game against the Mercury, and after she got treatment on Friday and Saturday, the decision to sit her was with the long-term in mind.

"It’s a long year," Fernandez said of Bueckers. "Paige wants to be on the floor tonight, but the best thing for her longevity, for her career, for the franchise is her making sure we take care of her and she takes care of her body.”

How long is Paige Bueckers out?

Bueckers will miss Saturday's game against Portland, but her injury isn't expected to be a long-term issue. 

Per Grant Afseth, Fernandez said Saturday that Bueckers is considered "day-to-day." With Dallas' next game being on Monday against Las Vegas, the star guard would appear to have a chance to make her return.

Paige Bueckers 2026 stats

Coming off a 31-point performance against Phoenix, Bueckers has been excellent in 2026 so far, averaging 19.8 points per game — good for seventh in the WNBA, as of Saturday.

Here's a look at Bueckers' strong start to the 2026 season:

GamesMPGPPGRPGAPGSPGBPGTOFG%3PT%FT%1232.419.83.65.80.50.32.152.3%42.9%78.6%

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