Paige Bueckers lit up Los Angeles on Wednesday night, setting a new WNBA rookie scoring record with 44 points. The Dallas Wings guard remarkable performance wasn’t enough to grab the win, as Los Angeles Sparks star Kelsey Plum buried a last-second shot to seal an 81-80 victory at Crypto.com Arena.
Bueckers shines despite Dallas defeat
Bueckers was nearly flawless. She went 17-for-21 from the floor, knocking down all six free throws and all four attempts from deep. She became the first WNBA player ever to score 40 or more while shooting 80 percent or better.
While she carried Dallas, the rest of the Wings combined for just 31 percent shooting. Bueckers was responsible for more than half of the team’s points, a rate not seen in the league since 2004 when Tina Thompson accounted for 56 percent of Houston’s scoring.
“I’ve always trusted the midrange game,” Bueckers said. “A lot of teams don’t defend it. I think it gives me an edge.”
MORE: Kelsey Plum backtracks after All-Star dig at Caitlin Clark
Her 44 points tied Cynthia Cooper’s rookie mark from 1997, the WNBA’s debut season, and surpassed Candace Parker’s 40-point game in 2008. The only Wings player to score more in a single game remains Liz Cambage, who set the franchise record with 53 back in 2018.
Dallas coach Chris Koclanes praised his rookie’s composure. “She controls the pace. Defenses can’t speed her up. For a first-year player, that’s rare.”
The Sparks improved to 17-18 and kept their playoff chase alive, while Dallas fell to 9-27 and is already eliminated.
More WNBA News:
