Paige Bueckers, the absolute force dominating the court for the Dallas Wings, is officially sitting out Monday night's heavyweight clash against the New York Liberty. This is a tough pill to swallow for Wings fans, especially after the scare she gave everyone on Sunday, even though team docs said she actually *avoided* a concussion.
That Collision With Ogwumike Had Everyone On Edge
Sunday's game against the Sparks was intense, and then it got terrifying. Bueckers went down hard after colliding with Nneka Ogwumike while trying to take a charge with less than four minutes left in the fourth quarter. You saw it, right? She fell violently, slammed the back of her head on the floor, and you just knew it was bad. The Wings' 90-82 win over Los Angeles felt secondary watching her get escorted to the locker room, missing the rest of the game for evaluation. Honestly, everyone was fearing the worst. But here's the wild part: after all that, she was actually *cleared* from concussion protocol. Doctors determined she hadn't suffered a concussion. Talk about a relief!Cleared, But Still Sidelined: What's the Deal?
So, if she's cleared from concussion protocol, why isn't our league-best point guard out there tonight? The word is she's still battling soreness. Even though she avoided the official concussion diagnosis, that kind of impact leaves a mark. The WNBA's concussion protocol, which mirrors the NBA's, shows just how seriously these head injuries are taken. Players diagnosed with a concussion are monitored for 24 hours while symptomatic and can't start their return process until 24 hours *after* symptoms clear. Then it's a multi-stage exertion routine, from stationary bikes to non-contact drills, with medical staff checking every step. It’s a process. Even with soreness, the team is clearly playing it safe, which is the only smart move. This is a huge blow for the Wings, who are 17-8 and climbing near the top of the Western Conference standings, largely thanks to Bueckers. She's been unreal in her sophomore campaign, improving across the board and dropping 20.9 points, 6.2 assists, and 4.2 rebounds a game. Without her, going up against the 13-12 Liberty is going to be a massive challenge. Here's hoping that soreness clears up fast. The Wings are back in action on July 22nd against the Fire, and we're all gonna be glued to the screen, waiting to see our star back on the court.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.
Originally reported by Direct RSS.