The Dallas Wings just can’t catch a break this season. With injuries piling up like bad luck at a casino, the latest blow came when rookie guard JJ Quinerly went out with a season-ending ACL sprain. And with that, Paige Bueckers got another assignment added to her cart.
Despite being sidelined from this season’s playoff equation, the Wings are still making a good case for themselves. But injuries seem unavoidable at this point for any team. It so happened to them during their game against the Los Angeles Sparks. The fourth-quarter blow looked quite concerning as Quinerly needed help from teammates to even make it to the locker room. However, Buecers now have to step up to the occasion and accept her role change with open arms.
Paige Bueckers Gets Extra Load After JJ Qunerly’s Injury
The Wings are now in one of their worst stretches as a team. Out of the last ten games they played, Dallas has lost nine of them. As if that was not enough, injuries kept coming for them. Additionally, tests confirmed the worst on Sunday, and just like that, Quinerly’s out for the year.
It was like a gut punch for a team already missing key players like veteran guard Arike Ogunbowale, center Li Yueru, and guard Tysha Harris. They’re down to scraping the bottom of the barrel, even signing Amy Okonkwo to a seven-day hardship contract to fill the gaps.
However, the team is now faced with a tricky decision to manage time around the ball. And Head Coach Chris Koclanes didn’t sugarcoat it. During his conversation with the Dallas Hoops Journal, he acknowledged what JJ meant for the team.
“Very much so on both sides of the ball. She’s another pace creator and tempo changer who gets our offense going and flowing. Defensively, her ability to pressure the ball and speed other teams up is valuable. We definitely miss her presence on the floor,” Koclanes said.
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Koclanes says Quinerly’s injury will lead to Bueckers being on the ball more
— Joey Mistretta (@JoeyMistretta_) August 24, 2025
Although, it appeared clear that the Wings rookie will have to spare more ball time as the roster needs it that way. And even NBA superstar Draymond Green has some advice for Paige Bueckers.
“Koclanes says Quinerly’s injury will lead to Bueckers being on the ball more,” Dallas reporter Joey Mistretta tweeted.
Surely, this could be the best workaround for a shorthanded roster. The Wings hold a tough 9-29 record, sitting dead last in the WNBA standings, and they exited playoff contention long ago. A five-game losing streak hasn’t helped, and with only nine healthy bodies left, every game feels like survival mode.
Paige Bueckers’ Role Becomes Crucial For Wings
With Quinerly sidelined, Bueckers is stepping up as the primary ball-handler. Though she’s already been killing it. The rookie phenom is leading the Dallas Wings with 19 points and 5.1 assists per game, clocking 33.7 minutes a night. But now she’s got to be the engine, creating for everyone else, too.
While it’s a big ask for a first-year player, Bueckers is the face of this franchise, and this could be her chance to shine or show where the cracks are.
The Wings have six games left, and it’s all about building for tomorrow at this point. Evaluating talent, seeing who fits the puzzle, that’s the focus now. Bueckers’ expanded role will give the front office a real look at her as the complete package. Sure, necessity gives birth to it, but sometimes that’s how stars forge their greatness.