Wings rookie Paige Bueckers cleared to return from 4-game absence with concussion, illness
Paige Bueckers has been cleared to return.
The star Dallas Wings rookie missed four games after being placed in concussion protocol in May. She was cleared from protocol for Sunday's 81-65 loss to the Minnesota Lynx, but she missed that game due to illness.
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Head coach Chris Koclanes told reporters Tuesday that Bueckers will be "good to go" for Wednesday's game against the Phoenix Mercury (6-4). She'll play without a minutes restriction.
Wings lose Tyasha Harris for season
Bueckers' return arrives amid news that guard Tyasha Harris will miss the rest of the season. The Wings announced Tuesday that Harris underwent season-ending surgery for an undisclosed knee injury.
Harris started 38 games last season and averaged 10.5 points and three assists per game. She moved to the bench with the arrival of Bueckers and averaged 4.6 points per game in five games this season.
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Bueckers returns amid rough Wings start
The Wings placed Bueckers in concussion protocol on May 30. It's unclear when or how she sustained her concussion. She missed games against the Chicago Sky, Seattle Storm, Los Angeles Sparks and Lynx with the concussion.
Bueckers was cleared from concussion protocol Saturday, but was a late scratch Sunday after previously being listed as questionable with an illness. The nature of her illness isn't clear.
Bueckers was the No. 1 pick in April's WNBA Draft after a standout career at UConn that included being named National Player of the Year and concluded with an NCAA championship. In six games with the Wings, Bueckers has averaged 14.7 points, 6.7 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 2 steals per game while shooting 43.7% from the floor and 33.3% from 3-point distance.
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The Wings are 1-5 in games in which Bueckers has played. Bueckers tallied 21 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds on May 27 to lead Dallas to its only win of the season against the Connecticut Sun.
The Wings have lost all four games that Bueckers has missed to drop to 1-9.
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