“It looked like our chemistry took a little step.” That’s what Arike Ogunbowale had to say after the Dallas Wings lost to the Chicago Sky two days ago. She wasn’t wrong. The Wings were starting to build something. After a shaky start to the season, Paige Bueckers was finally finding her rhythm, clicking with Arike, and helping steer Dallas to their first win of the year just earlier this week. But just as it was coming together…it all came crashing down.
Heading into Saturday night’s rematch, things looked rough. Paige was sidelined, stuck in concussion protocol. And to make matters worse, her backup Ty Harris was also ruled out with a knee injury. Both point guards gone. Natutally, cue chaos. Even head coach Chris Koclanes admitted it was a scramble out there. “First game here without you know…you’re not playing with a true point guard in that lineup so you had all sorts of different people bringing the ball up so it felt a little… I mean DiJonai [Carrington] is initiating offense so it was just a little clunky at times,” he said.
Clunky is putting it lightly.
Maddy Siegrist got the start, but it was déjà vu all over again. Just like the first game, the Wings fell behind early. Then came the usual suspects – late-game turnovers, defensive breakdowns, and scoring droughts. Two days ago, they lost 97-92. This time, 94-83. Same collapse. Even though they had a few nice runs, that brutal second-quarter drought let the Sky take full control.
May 19, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) in action during the game between the Dallas Wings and the Seattle Storm at College Park Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
By halftime, Chicago was up three. Two minutes into the fourth, the lead ballooned to 12, and the Wings just couldn’t claw back. Could it have been any different with PB? The possibilities are high Paige was just starting to cook. Before the injury, she was easily Dallas’ stabilizing force. She led all rookies in assists (6.7) and was second in scoring (14.7).
On Thursday, she dropped 15 points, 8 dimes, 5 boards, 3 steals, and 3 blocks, basically doing everything on the floor. But now, with her and Harris out, the Wings had to get creative with their lineup. They could’ve slid Arike into the point guard spot and moved DiJonai Carrington to the two. Instead, Carrington ran the offense.
But along with being short handed, coach Koclanes admitted he lacked too. Though he said he still thinks that they did a great job trying to get the ball up and get organized but confessed, “I definitely could have been more helpful in those moments.” Koclanes’ coaching’s been under the scrutiny lately anyway. While he’s got some solid experience – assistant at USC, defensive coordinator in the W – this is his first time leading a pro team. Never been the top assistant, never the go-to guy. That’s got some people raising eyebrows, especially given how bumpy the start’s been.
Not to forget, people were already freaking out about how many minutes Paige was logging early in the season. After all she’s been through injury-wise, fans were worried. Some were pushing for more Ty Harris minutes to take the load off and change things up in the backcourt. And then there’s the whole new system thing. Koclanes has all these structured plays. He’s got a plan, rotations, assignments, the whole nine yards. But if it’s all that organized, why isn’t it working?
Right now, the Wings have lost 6 of their last 7. If they’re not hitting panic yet, they should be. Paige will probably miss one more game, so they’ll be short handed again. Wings fans must be looking forward to her return as it’s not just her scoring or flashy plays that that team is missing, it’s her position. She’s the point guard. The engine.
Coincidentally, that’s exactly what’s been missing for the Indiana Fever too.
With Paige Bueckers and CC absent, Fever and Wings caught in the same storm
Indiana looked like it had cracked the code. The Fever came into the season with momentum – new leadership, smart roster additions, and the kind of hype that makes you believe it’s finally their year. Caitlin Clark was commanding the floor, the system seemed to click, and for a hot minute, the Fever looked unstoppable.
But then… the good times hit a wall.
Barely a week in, Indiana’s smooth start has been disrupted by the one thing no one ever plans for – back-to-back injuries. And not just to anyone, but to the most crucial spot on the floor. First came the news about Caitlin Clark. A left quad strain means she’s out for at least two weeks. It’s unclear when it happened, but sharp-eyed fans may have noticed her nursing her leg during last weekend’s Liberty matchup.
True to form, she didn’t check out but then came the announcement. Suddenly, the Fever’s high gear stalled. Wednesday’s game against the Mystics marked Caitlin’s first regular season DNP since high school. And sure, Indiana kept it competitive, but the final score (83–77, Mystics) said it all the usual flow just wasn’t there.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) reacts after being injured during the first half of an WNBA basketball game against the Connecticut Sun, Monday, May 20, 2024, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
And then, the worst-case scenario got worse. Sydney Colson filled in at point, steadying the team until she too went down. In the first quarter against the Sun, Colson collided with Jacy Sheldon. A loose ball scramble turned into a hard landing, and Colson was clearly hurting. She limped to the locker room and didn’t return.
Now the Fever may be heading into a game without any natural point guard. That’s no minor hiccup , the point guard is your tempo-setter, your floor leader, your problem-solver under pressure. Wings fans know this pain too well. For now, let’s just hope both no.1 picks return soon, because clearly, these young stars are the most valuable pieces on the board.
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