Mercury’s Thomas, Wings’ Bueckers star in their own way in return from injury

By Jeff Metcalfe

In distinctly different ways, Alyssa Thomas and Paige Bueckers made elite returns from injury Wednesday. 

Bueckers, in just her seventh WNBA game, scored a season high 22 points in the first half on her way to 35 overall for the Dallas Wings. Her previous high 21 was on May 27.

Thomas’ double-double (11 points/10 assists) for the Phoenix Mercury was more predictable because of her 12-season WNBA track record. She has three double-doubles in her first six games with the Mercury.

The Mercury won 93-80, improving to 7-4, so a case can be made that Thomas’ night mattered more especially since her assists largely fueled a 3-point barrage (15-of-35) that the Wings (5-of-19) couldn’t match.

But Bueckers will be the more talked about nationally because the No. 1 overall draft pick is only the second rookie in WNBA history with a 35-point, five 3-point game. Indiana’s Caitlin Clark was the first last season. 

The Wings, though, fell to 1-10 and a quarter of the way through a 44-game season appear headed back to the draft lottery seeking reinforcement for Bueckers.

Bueckers missed the preceding four games due to a concussion (three) and illness (one). Her 12 days without a game proved beneficial in refreshing someone whose final college season at Connecticut ended April 6 with a national title.

“It’s a new journey, I’m not the only rookie that’s going through it,” Bueckers said of the rapid turnaround from college to pro. “Maybe in the future we can have a longer break for player safety, that’s the main concern. But we ball. Just keep on going and whatever that calls for, just do it.”

The Mercury tried to ratchet up their defense on Bueckers in the second half with a quarter of success when she scored only three. They fared better against Arike Ogunbowale, who was 2-of-10 overall and missed all four of her 3-point tries. 

“It’s tough for these rookies to come into this league after the college season,” Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts said. “They get three weeks off and they’re thrown into the fire. I know Paige has been out. It’s probably the best her body has felt in a month. She looked refreshed. I thought we did a good job on Arike. They’re the ones that make that team go.

“We competed all night against her (Bueckers). She’s going to be a really good player.”

Bueckers, 23, played her first game ever in Arizona coincidently on Diana Taurasi’s 43rd birthday. Taurasi also starred at Connecticut before her 20-year WNBA scoring-leading career with the Mercury and now is in her first year of retirement.

“I wish I would have gotten to compete against her,” Bueckers said. “She had a great long career. Her longevity is something I want to do as well so following her footsteps and how much she takes care of herself.”

Thomas returned after five games out with a calf injury. She was on a minutes restriction, making the most of her 23 played, particularly on the passing front. 

“I’m just excited to be back out there and get my teammates easy shots,” said Thomas, now with double-figure points and five or more assists in every game. “There’s always extra shooters around me. When you’re able to have that kind of spacing, it puts defense in trouble. You’re going to help in on me or I’m going to spray out and find my teammates.”

The Mercury, off to their best start since 2018, start a four-game road trip Sunday at Las Vegas. They are 6-2 at home but won’t return to PHX Arena until June 27.

“We’re going to be in more uncomfortable situations,” Tibbetts said. “I’m kind of excited to get on the road to see how we do.

“If you were to tell us to start the year that Kah (Copper), (Natasha) Mack and AT were going to miss this many games (26 combined) and for us to be 7-4, I would have taken it.”

For Bueckers, not used to this level of losing games, the mental part is as important as any rookie lesson she’ll learn.

“It’s challenging, but very rewarding in a sense of just being super process oriented and not result oriented,” she said. “We want to have a set of standards, build a culture and have a way we do things and stick to that, regardless of wins or losses. The results will follow as we continue to stay disciplined in who we are every single day.”