Dallas Wings Make Decision After Unwanted Paige Bueckers Situation originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Dallas Wings play for the second-straight night on Saturday as they host the Washington Mystics at College Park Center. The Wings are looking to get back to winning ways after suffering a 94-86 defeat against the Caitlin Clark-less Indiana Fever on Friday.
Unfortunately for Dallas, they will need to try to do so without the services of Paige Bueckers, who was ruled out for the Mystics game with a knee injury. Bueckers looked fine against Indiana on Friday as she went off for a team-high 27 points, but she will now need to sit out against Washington while nursing a knee issue.
The Wings were then left with a crucial decision to make amid the No. 1 overall pick’s sudden absence. They took to social media to announce that JJ Quinerly will be taking Bueckers’ spot in the starting five.
Start your engines 🏎️@bswhealth | #WingsUppic.twitter.com/xDI8kq23gZ
— Dallas Wings (@DallasWings) June 28, 2025
This will be Quinerly’s first start of her WNBA career. The rookie, who Dallas selected in the third round of the 2024 WNBA Draft, has averaged 3.3 points and 1.0 assists in 7.2 minutes off the bench this season.
The team’s decision to give Quinerly her first start also comes amid the Wings’ injury crisis. DiJonai Carrington (rib) was also ruled out for Saturday’s game, while both Maddy Seigrist (right knee) and Tyasha Harris (season-ending knee surgery) remain out with long-term injuries.
Luisa Geiselsöder and Teaira McCowan, on the other hand, are both away from the team due to their obligations with their respective national squads.
As for Bueckers, her next chance to suit up would be on Thursday against the Phoenix Mercury. It does not seem like the knee injury is serious, which gives her a good shot at returning for that game.
In the meantime, Quinerly will want to take advantage of her opportunity, which could potentially become even more significant if Bueckers is forced to miss time again.
Related: WNBA’s Strong Reaction to Paige Bueckers’ Performance Against Caitlin Clark-Less Fever
Related: Ranking the 25 Best WNBA Players of All Time
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 29, 2025, where it first appeared.