3 ways a Paige Bueckers knee injury could knock WNBA growth off schedule
WNBA consensus No. 1 draft pick Paige Bueckers took a blow to her twice surgically repaired left knee in UConn's game earlier today.
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The WNBA expects Paige Bueckers to help continue their stellar growth next season
Paige Bueckers is the most important player in women’s basketball this season. Not only is she important to the UConn Huskies in their quest to win an NCAA Championship, but she is also important to the WNBA who want to build on the surge in popularity they received last season.
The star guard has been instrumental in their 13-2 run this season. Her elite efficiency along with her defense and playmaking have helped the Huskies lead the charge along with her younger teammates. However, she suffered an injury in the third quarter of their last game against the Villanova Wildcats.
While hustling for a loose ball, a Villanova player dived, but inadvertently threw her entire weight onto Paige Bueckers‘ left knee. The superstar was seen anguishing in pain and then hobbled on her way to the locker room.
She returned to the bench, but was still limping and did not play another minute. Usually, such injuries would not matter as she should be fine after some rest and rehab. But when the words ‘injury’ and ‘Paige Bueckers’ are spoken in the same sentence, it could leave WNBA executives anxious.
Paige Bueckers’ left knee is a concern
Women’s college basketball has seen the name Caitlin Clark dominate its landscape over the past two years. She no doubt did her part in soaring to not only become the most famous basketball player in the world, but also broke records on her way to becoming the WNBA’s No. 1 draft pick.
However, it was not meant to go this way as it was Paige Bueckers who was the bonafide superstar entering her freshman season. Bueckers was the top ranked recruit out of high school and Clark was fourth.
Bueckers went on to confirm those rankings by winning the AP Player of the Year, Naismith College Player of the Year, USBWA Women’s National Player of the Year and the John R. Wooden Award. In doing so, she became the first freshman to win any of those awards.
However, in her sophomore season, she suffered a tibial plateau fracture in her left knee injury that forced her out for some time. Then prior to the 2022 season, she tore her ACL in the same left knee that forced her to redshirt her sophomore season. During that time, Clark thrived and changed the narrative.
During today’s game, she was in tears as this was the third time her left knee was injured. She knows the significance of it all too well. Her left knee is her weak spot and for the WNBA, it would be a matter of longevity. They need a healthy superstar to play in their league for as long as she could.
Another injury could force another season in college
When the Dallas Wings won the 2025 WNBA Draft lottery, everyone instantly linked Paige Bueckers to become a member of the Wings next season. However, there is one situation that could stop that from happening.
The UConn star technically has one year of eligibility left. She wants to cement her name as one of the University’s best, and that starts and ends with a national championship. In the event she suffers another injury, or it restricts her from lifting that NCAA Trophy, she could come back next season.
She was eligible for the WNBA Draft last season but postponed it after falling short with an injury depleted team. If she feels that winning the championship is important, the Dallas Wings could start looking at other prospects.
WNBA needs the UConn star to start their next wave
If Paige Bueckers decides to continue in college, it will be a bigger blow for the WNBA. Caitlin Clark attracted millions of new fans to the league and has the league growing rapidly. To sustain that growth, they need more stars to come in from college and that is where the UConn guard is instrumental.
There is no doubt she is the next player from the golden generation as the Huskies superstar has a lot of her own fans. If she comes into the league next season, ticket as well as merchandise sales and viewership will spread across at least one more city.
The Dallas Wings are a small basketball club and needs a superstar to help them grow. Bueckers is the answer and her presence in Texas could draw millions to cheer the Wings on. The league and the Wings are banking on her helping push another team into the national spotlight.
If she postpones her entry into professional sports, it will severely undermine them. They will have to resort to whatever Clark draws. The league currently has two superstars in the East with Clark and Angel Reese. Bueckers coming in will balance it off along with Cameron Brink in the West.
The earliest the league can see JuJu Watkins or Hannah Hidalgo playing is in 2027. Until then, the WNBA needs another superstar and that is Bueckers. WNBA needs her healthy next season if they are to continue on their journey to breaking even.
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Joseph Varghese
(2526 Articles Published)