Paige Bueckers Gives Injury Update Ahead of WNBA Return After Winning Gold Medal with USA

Dallas Wings superstar guard Paige Bueckers told reporters after her team's practice on Wednesday that patellar tendinitis in her right knee has "flared up."

"There was two back-to-backs," Bueckers told reporters. "Just wanted to be cautious, take that approach. Obviously the timing was frustrating, but being smart about it too, knowing that there's a reason and purpose for everything."

Bueckers just helped Team USA win gold at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup. The Americans played three games over the final four days, including a quarterfinal win over Hungary followed by back-to-back contests on Saturday (semifinal win vs. Spain) and Sunday (final victory vs. France).

She played 19 minutes against Hungary before taking the court for 16 minutes against Spain. However, Bueckers suited up for just three minutes vs. France, leading to some natural concern about her status.

Team USA ultimately played six games in 10 days in Berlin, including another back-to-back during the group phase on Sept. 6 and 7 against Italy and Czechia, respectively.

Bueckers is back stateside with the 24-16 Wings, tied for sixth place in the WNBA standings with four regular-season games remaining between Thursday and next Wednesday.

Bueckers didn't practice Tuesday (rest day, per head coach Jose Fernandez). However, she participated some Wednesday, and she'll be a "full go" at shootaround on Thursday.

Bueckers is enjoying a great second season, averaging 20.5 points on 50.6 percent shooting, 5.9 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game. The Wings obviously need her in top form to engineer a playoff run.

Dallas has already clinched a playoff spot. The Wings can mathematically finish as high as third in the standings, although that's a tough spot to reach with the 27-13 Las Vegas Aces, 26-14 Atlanta Dream, and Indiana Fever ahead of them.

In theory, it may not be a bad idea for Bueckers to get at least a little rest down the stretch, since the Wings are probably locked into starting the first round of the playoffs on the road as a fifth-through-eighth seed. Dallas' playoff seed (or elimination from having home-court advantage in the first round) may be known before the season ends.

In the meantime, the Wings still have that home-court advantage to play for, and they'll shoot for it beginning Thursday when they host the Los Angeles Sparks.