Maddy Siegrist shines in return as Wings fall to Liberty

The Dallas Wings forward scored 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting in her first action since June 11, showing no hesitation in a hard-fought 85-76 road loss to the New York Liberty on Tuesday night. She added three rebounds in just 15 minutes off the bench and looked right at home from the moment she stepped onto the floor.

“It felt great to be out there,” Siegrist said. “I just feel like it’s been a long process, so you’re really building up to the moment, and then to go in and try to help my team. Obviously, you want to come out with the win tonight, but just to get the first one under your belt feels great.”

A smooth, confident return

Siegrist checked in midway through the first quarter and scored on her very first look, using a one-legged jumper — flashing the touch and efficiency that Dallas envisioned counting on this season before her injury. Throughout her performance, she continued to provide the hustle and complementary impact the coaching staff had long anticipated receiving upon her return.

Head coach Chris Koclanes didn’t mince words about how much they’ve missed her presence.

“She’s going to be consistent with her motor,” Koclanes said. “In the half court, just a smart presence with the balance of spacing and cutting, and just efficient around the rim. Right when she gets touches around the rim, she’s going to put the ball in the hoop. So we’ve been missing that.”

Siegrist spent the last few weeks ramping up behind the scenes—working through shooting drills, three-on-three, and eventually full contact. Before Friday’s loss against the Indiana Fever, she was upgraded to active but was questionable on the injury report before ultimately being downgraded to out. The cause was a practice cancellation on Thursday, preventing her from getting in five-on-five reps for conditioning purposes and delaying her return. Getting her back was certainly worth the wait for Dallas.

The moment didn’t look too big, and neither did the opponent.

“I feel like that confidence comes from the preparation,” Siegrist said. “In the rehab with our medical staff, just knowing I was ready and that they’re going to put you in situations to succeed.”

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Immediate chemistry with Dallas’ core

The Wings trimmed a double-digit deficit to just one at halftime, and Siegrist’s fingerprints were all over that second-quarter push. Her scoring touch opened up space for others, while her constant movement helped settle Dallas’ half-court rhythm.

Paige Bueckers, who led the Wings with 21 points in her fourth straight 20-point outing, raved about having Siegrist back in the mix.

“She’s huge for this team,” Bueckers said. “She’s literally one of the most experienced players playing here with the Wings. She can score at all three levels, gets a ton of rebounds, has a hundred percent crash rate—she’s just creating extra opportunities for us on offense.”

The chemistry between the two former Big East opponents is already developing into one of Dallas’s more intriguing on-court partnerships.

“We play alike and we feed off each other,” Bueckers added. “We know each other’s tendencies because we play a similar style of basketball, so it’s been fun playing with her.”

Grounded perspective in a year of change

The Wings have been the league’s most active team when it comes to roster movement, and Siegrist acknowledged the mental toll that can come with a season of constant change. Still, she’s embraced her role and is focused on the present.

“I think that’s not unusual in the WNBA,” she said. “People go from team to team, get waived, picked up on seven-day contracts. It’s just the nature of the business. Mentally, I know that and just focus on being where my feet are. But I’m really happy here in Dallas. Great people. I’m enjoying where I’m at right now.”

With her minutes monitored and Diamond Miller making her team debut, Siegrist said the focus now is on gelling with the new-look roster and building momentum over the final stretch of the season.

“Anytime your team has people in and out for different reasons, whether it’s injuries or trades, you just have to focus on the group you have,” she said. “You can feel it—getting Paige, playing with Arike, so many of our young players—it’s definitely going in the right direction.”

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A hometown moment to remember

Tuesday’s game at Barclays Center held extra meaning for Siegrist, who grew up nearby and had a large group of friends and family in attendance. She joked pregame that fans would know exactly where her section was.

“This is the closest arena to my house,” she said. “Anytime your family and friends can come out, it’s a great feeling. Knowing you’re going to see them after, however the game goes, it’s always something you look forward to.”

Even in defeat, Siegrist gave them something to cheer for.

The Wings (8-22) will face the Liberty (19-10) again on Friday in Arlington. With another full practice under her belt and the confidence of a strong return, Siegrist will look to build on her performance—and continue proving just how important she is to Dallas’ present and future.