Maddy Siegrist Out with Knee Injury; Dallas Wings Sign Li Yueru and Haley Jones

Dallas Wings forward Maddy Siegrist is sidelined with a right knee injury, which, while not requiring surgery, will keep her off the court for an extended period. The team confirmed this development on Tuesday, adding her to a growing list of injured players.

Siegrist sustained the injury during last Wednesday's game against Phoenix. The Wings announced on Monday that she has been diagnosed with an anterolateral tibial plateau fracture, a condition affecting the shinbone. Fortunately, she is expected to make a full recovery and return "later this season."

Drafted third overall from Villanova in 2023, Siegrist has made a notable impact, averaging 9.4 points and 5.2 rebounds across 11 games this year. The Wings exercised her fourth-year rookie contract option for the upcoming season last month.

In March, she clinched the Athletes Unlimited individual championship, outscoring Odyssey Sims in a competitive four-week event held in Nashville.

The Wings are currently facing significant roster challenges, missing two guards—Siegrist and point guard Tyasha Harris—as well as two centers, Teaira McCowan and Luisa Geiselsoder, who are away for national team commitments.

In a recent move, guard/forward Kaila Charles was waived on June 14 but quickly re-signed under a hardship contract on June 17.

To bolster their lineup, the Wings have acquired center Li Yueru from the Seattle Storm and former Atlanta Dream standout Haley Jones. Yueru was traded to Dallas for two future draft picks on June 14.

At 26 years old, Yueru averaged 2.8 points and 1.6 rebounds in 8.7 minutes over nine games with the Storm this season. She joined Seattle following a three-team trade involving the Los Angeles Sparks and Las Vegas Aces. Reports indicated that Yueru had requested a trade, leading to her move to Dallas as the team sought depth in the center position.

Jones, who recently played for the Phoenix Mercury on a hardship contract, is available for immediate play with the Wings. Standing at 6'1", she was selected sixth overall by the Dream in the 2023 WNBA Draft and participated in all 40 games that season, earning AP All-Rookie Team honors.

Both Jones and Charles qualified for hardship contracts after the Wings fell below ten available players due to injuries and temporary absences of McCowan and Geiselsoder.

With the addition of Yueru and a reshuffled lineup, Dallas aims to end its five-game home losing streak. The team has struggled against Western Conference opponents, holding an 0-8 record thus far.

The Wings are set to face the Golden State Valkyries for the first time this season on June 17. Currently, Dallas ranks seventh in the WNBA with an average of 19.3 assists per game, led by Arike Ogunbowale at 4.3 assists per game.

The Valkyries hold a 4-3 record in Western Conference play and rank sixth with an average of 18.1 assists per game, spearheaded by Veronica Burton at 5.4 assists per game.

This season, Dallas has maintained a shooting percentage of 41.8%, matching the percentage allowed by Golden State to its opponents.