Amid the game against the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday, June 17, that ended in an 80-91 loss, star guard Paige Bueckers revealed the reason for gaining 18 pounds before the start of the regular season.

In an interview with ESPN's Alexa Philippou, Bueckers stated that she gained 18 pounds, which is full of lean muscle. Her reason for gaining the weight was to have all the muscle to withstand the physicality of the league.

"I've gained like 18 pounds, so I did mental math. … I'm hoping that most of what I put on is muscle. It feels like it."

This came about as she was finally able to shift to full-body strength training this season after rehabbing during her offseason.

Paige Bueckers And The Wings' Journey So Far

Bueckers had a major left knee ACL tear, a tibial plateau fracture, and an osteochondral defect, which together caused her to miss significant matches during her college days.

This muscle gain has helped Bueckers to stay on the court for long and keep her intensity during the crucial moments. Last season, she averaged 19.2 points per game and averaged 5.4 assists as well.

Bueckers has been performing brilliantly so far this season, too, averaging 19 points, 5.8 assists, and 3.7 rebounds per game.

In the latest game, she scored 15 points, dished out eight assists, had three rebounds, and made a block and a steal. With the latest loss against the Valkyries, the Wings now hold a 9-6 record in the league.

The Wings stand fourth in the Western Conference standings and seventh in the league standings. They also stand fourth in the Western Conference standings of the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup, with a 4-3 record.

They will play their next game against the Chicago Sky, who have a 4-10 record. The game is set to take place at the College Park Center on Saturday, June 20.

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Written by

Dhruv Singh

Edited by

Koushik Biswas