Is Paige Bueckers a Game-Time Decision Tonight?

The Dallas Wings took many by surprise with their 95-87 victory over the Las Vegas Aces in late May. This complete team effort, from their defensive prowess to their stars shining, had many believing the Wings could be major contenders in the WNBA. But now, the defending champs have a chance to settle the score.

During their initial matchup, the Aces came out on top in the first half, but the Wings put on a clinic in the second half, outscoring them 50-34 to secure the win. The Wings had three players score 20+ points in a notable performance.

Tonight, it's Las Vegas's turn to host the Wings. Both teams will likely need their entire roster to step up. The Aces are almost fully healthy, but guard Dana Evans is still recovering from a left leg injury and hasn't made her debut this season. Chennedy Carter is also out – her absence will be especially tough for Vegas to navigate, as she recorded 14 points in the first matchup. For the Wings, Odyssey Sims is sidelined due to an ankle injury, while Paige Bueckers is listed as probable for tonight's game, which could spell trouble for the Wings.

During their matchup against the Phoenix Mercury on June 11, Bueckers suffered an ankle injury in the second quarter. She quickly got taped up and returned to the game, finishing with a season-high 31 points, leading the Wings to an 85-70 victory.

Bueckers missed the following game against the Portland Fire due to her ankle injury. According to Kendra Andrews, Dallas Head Coach Jose Fernandez told reporters, "It's a long year … Paige wants to be on the floor tonight (against Portland), but the best thing for her longevity, for her career, for the franchise is her making sure we take care of her and she takes care of her body."

There's no doubt that the team wants her to play tonight against the Aces, nearly as much as she does. Even with strong performances from Fudd and Arike Ogwunbowale, the Wings weren't able to win without Bueckers in Portland, losing 85-84. She'll do everything in her power to get on the court tonight.

If Bueckers plays, the Wings can be expected to field their primary lineup. While Fernandez experimented with the starting five early in the season, these five seem committed, especially with Sims out. The Wings are 4-1 on the season when this lineup starts.

I don't want to say Bueckers must play if Dallas wants to win in Vegas, but it would certainly help. In the first matchup, she and Fudd showed glimpses of their UConn days throughout. Bueckers finished with 20 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists, while Fudd recorded 22 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists. And Jessica Shepard was a game-turning factor, putting up 22 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists.

If Bueckers remains sidelined, a few players will need to step up, particularly Ogwunbowale. In the first matchup, she recorded only 1 point, shooting 0-4 from the field. However, against Portland, she played a huge role in keeping the game close in Bueckers' absence, finishing with 22 points and 6 assists. Aziaha James could also be a crucial factor. She enters the lineup if Bueckers is unavailable. Against Portland, she put up 17 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals.

For Dallas to secure another win over Vegas, they'll need to replicate the energy from the second half of their first meeting. The bench will need contributions from players like Clark and Kuier, even if Bueckers plays. If she can get on the court, I expect her to come out strong after watching her team lose a close game from the sidelines.

To even the series, the Aces will need to focus on containing the Wings' 3-point shooting and winning the rebound battle. In the first matchup, Dallas shot 45 percent from 3-point land – with forwards Siegrist and Kuier each draining two shots. The Wings outscored the Aces 17-12 in second-chance opportunities, largely thanks to Shepard's 20 rebounds. They'll need to lock down the perimeter and keep Shepard contained.

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