Wings get tough injury news on Paige Bueckers' recently acquired teammate originally appeared on The Sporting News
As Paige Bueckers' rookie season in the WNBA begins to wind down, she faces a battle in the Rookie of the Year race as the Dallas Wings try to remain competitive down the stretch.
Bueckers and the Wings (9-26) secured a big-time road win over the Indiana Fever last Tuesday, without All-Star guard Arike Ogunbowale. However, Dallas then suffered a one-point home loss to the Los Angeles Sparks on Friday -- followed by a 106-87 defeat to the Aces in Las Vegas.
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Li Yueru did not play for the Wings when they visited Vegas -- and on Tuesday, she was ruled out for the season due to an ACL sprain in her left knee.
Li began the 2025 season with the Seattle Storm before she was dealt to Dallas on June 14. Playing for her fourth WNBA team, the Chinese center began to tap more fully into her potential -- in 22 games before her injury, Li averaged 7.4 points and 5.8 rebounds in 20 minutes per game, while shooting better than 35 percent from 3-point land.
Li's injury leaves Dallas in a position where it will need to sign a player to a hardship contract in order to meet the WNBA's minimum roster requirement of eight dressed players. The Wings are in Los Angeles on Wednesday to take on the Sparks -- where Li played in 2024 -- in a game that could prove pivotal for LA's burgeoning playoff hopes.