'We’re Being Extremely Cautious': Dallas Wings Regain Paige Bueckers and Myisha Hines-Allen for Matchup vs. New York Liberty

The Dallas Wings will welcome back two key players Monday night as they host the defending WNBA champion New York Liberty on ESPN. Rookie guard Paige Bueckers and forward Myisha Hines-Allen are both available after missing Sunday’s game, giving Dallas a much-needed boost amid one of the league’s most grueling schedule stretches. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CT from College Park Center.

Sunday’s 106-80 loss to the Las Vegas Aces marked the first time Bueckers missed a game as part of a formal load management plan. She had logged 37 minutes in Friday’s loss to the Golden State Valkyries and entered Sunday averaging 34.6 minutes per game — among the highest workloads in the WNBA — while producing 18.1 points, 5.6 assists, and 1.8 steals per contest.

Dallas Wings Being Cautious with Paige Bueckers

Head coach Chris Koclanes said the decision to rest Bueckers was made in coordination with the team’s medical staff and front office.

“It’s extremely precautionary,” Koclanes said. “Especially with these rookies coming off the long college season. You just want to be smart. So we’re being extremely cautious and doing everything we can to make sure we’re putting everybody in positions to be healthy. It’s all about health and safety first and foremost.”

Dallas is currently navigating a stretch of five games in eight days and six in 11 — all while rotating through a thin roster that has dealt with multiple injuries. Tyasha Harris (left knee) and Maddy Siegrist (right knee) remain out, but with Bueckers and Hines-Allen now available, the Wings regain some stability on both ends of the floor.

Bueckers, who leads all WNBA rookies in scoring and ranks top 10 leaguewide in steals and assists, is just two steals away from entering the franchise’s all-time rookie top 10 list. If she maintains her current rate, her 1.8 steals per game would be the highest by a WNBA rookie since Napheesa Collier in 2019.

Reset Required After Blowout Loss

Without Bueckers or Hines-Allen, the Wings fielded a reshuffled starting group Sunday that struggled to match Las Vegas’ depth. Despite a competitive first quarter and a 30–16 advantage in paint points early, Dallas was outscored 55–35 in the second half and allowed a season-worst 33 points in the fourth quarter alone.

“We were moving the ball pretty well in the second quarter, and then we kind of got stagnant,” said Haley Jones, who finished with a season-high 15 points. “We just have to be better — especially on the glass and at the point of attack.”

Teaira McCowan delivered a bright spot with her best performance of the season: 12 points and 13 rebounds in just 17 minutes. Arike Ogunbowale led the team with 18 points and four assists, but Dallas committed 12 turnovers and shot 38% from the floor.

The Liberty (17-7), meanwhile, is coming off its own back-to-back. New York dropped a 101-99 decision to the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday despite a 30-point performance from Sabrina Ionescu. Two-time MVP Breanna Stewart remains out with a right leg injury, which could shift the Liberty’s frontcourt dynamics heading into Monday’s meeting — the first of three between these teams this season.

Dallas will play again on Wednesday against the Atlanta Dream before hosting the Indiana Fever at American Airlines Center on Friday night.