Paige Bueckers Unrivaled Debut Faces Questions Over Strain Before 2026 WNBA Season

“I think we’re proud of what we’ve done.” Unrivaled’s first season was a happy medium between injuries and success. Within the first year, they created a viewer base of 221,000 fans! Significantly less than the WNBA, but impressive for a fledgling league. And now they’re looking to bump up their ratings for the next season from day 1, because they just announced that WNBA ROTY Paige Bueckers will be a part of the league! But should Paige Bueckers be playing in the 3×3 league?

We know that the Dallas Wings rookie isn’t completely healthy. She has missed a handful of games because of load management in her very first season, which isn’t a good sign. On top of that, her team is one of the worst affected. Before their final game of the season, the Dallas Wings’ injury stats are worrying. 136 games missed due to injuries and national team obligations!

And to connect it better, last season, Unrivaled was the reason a lot of players got injured. Breanna Stewart, Angel Reese, Arike Ogunbowale, Kate Martin, the list goes on and on. It got so bad that the league created an Unrivaled Relief Player Pool for centralized injury replacements. Players like Natisha Hiedeman had to play for multiple teams, and it was clear that the fast-paced format is quite stressful on the body.

Yes, Unrivaled has the money that the WNBA is unable to commit. It is glamorous, but the schedule makes it harsh, too. But Bueckers’ joining Unrivaled should come as no surprise to anyone. The six-foot-tall point guard is an investor in the league and signed with them before she entered the W!

After Bueckers’ impressive rookie season, it’s clear that fans are excited for what she can do in the 3×3 basketball format. However, there’s one pressing issue that the community is concerned about: injuries. Unrivaled’s track record with injury is terrible, and that’s exactly why the WNBA community is hesitant about the idea of PB5 playing there. Let’s hear what they have to say!

“Isn’t she injured a lot?”: Fans express concern over Paige Bueckers’ Unrivaled commitment

There are two facts we need to be clear on. Firstly, despite all the hype around Unrivaled, it still doesn’t come close to the W. It’s a new league trying to build a legacy, which isn’t there yet. The format too alienates fans of traditional 5v5 play, and the injuries don’t help its case. Secondly, Paige Bueckers is the future of the W. She won the ROTY race, made history along the way, and has a cult-like following of fans.

“Isn’t she injured ALOT… Or needs extra rest?” One user asked on X, bringing to light a common sentiment amongst fans. Bueckers wasn’t completely healthy during her rookie year. She ended up missing eight games because of load management, back soreness, and a concussion that she suffered in practice.

It’s not a good look to be citing load management in your first year playing pro, only to turn around and compete in another league during the off-season. One fan summarized the situation quite perfectly. “That’s our girl, but she’s a rookie that couldn’t play back to backs and doesn’t need the money or exposure. I just pray for her health going forward, but I’m scared.” So, it is rare that fans would be happy about the risks involved in playing Unrivaled. No. The answer’s no, and for good reason too. The reason why fans are taking to social media. It might be good for the new league, but a potential risk of strain for the Dallas Wings star.

That’s our girl but she’s a rookie that couldn’t play back to backs and doesn’t need the money or exposure. I just pray for her health going forward, but I’m scared.

— The juice!!! (@Heyjuiceman) September 22, 2025

This was just the more… thoughtful demographic, however, as some fans weren’t amused with her decision-making. “Injury-prone player wants to play in an injury-prone exhibition league that ends very close to the beginning of the WNBA season. Sounds smart!” A fan said quite harshly. They didn’t take kindly to the risk involved. Dallas is one of those teams that’s prone to injury. The team saw 5 season-ending injuries, and can’t afford to deal with another.

Many users agreed with this sentiment. “Paige Bueckers will be INJURED OFTEN IN 2026 AND MISS GAMES, due to foolishly competing in the Unrivaled League this winter 2025!” Another user on X said. She isn’t unknown to injuries. Paige missed more than half of her sophomore season and her entire junior year because of knee injuries. It’s important to note that Paige Bueckers isn’t dealing with acute injuries either; they’re long-term.

“I’ve been dealing with patellar tendonitis since I was in high school. And it is, in a sense of you’re managing it, at all times. There’s no day where it probably doesn’t hurt.” The star had explained while missing a game on July 2nd due to knee soreness. So, here’s my question to you, PB: Why risk it? There’s literally no upside to playing in this 3×3 league.

As a fan pointed out on X, the game speed and style are completely different, and don’t even translate to the big leagues! “It’s 3 on 3, we seen it didn’t translate to much when Angel Reese came in fresh off the unrivaled season and still couldn’t hit a wide open layup. A league where girls already cry about back-to-backs and can’t stay healthy wants to play more games.” They said.

Bueckers doesn’t need the money; she doesn’t need the fame. Dealing with a chronic knee injury is not easy, even if she’s only playing in the W. We don’t need to see the effects of another league added on top of that! Still, at the end of the day, it’s the player’s call. I can’t fault Paige Bueckers for making the best out of every opportunity she gets. Here’s hoping she comes out of it unscathed!

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