Paige Bueckers Sets Rookie Record with 44 Points, But Loses to Sparks

Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers set a new rookie scoring record in a single WNBA game with 44 points on Wednesday night in Los Angeles. Although her performance was impressive, it was not enough to secure the victory, as the Sparks’ Kelsey Plum scored a shot just before the buzzer, giving L.A. an 81-80 win at the Crypto.com Arena.Despite the loss, Bueckers’ performance was exceptional. She went 17 of 21 from the field, becoming the first player in WNBA history to score 40 or more points with a shooting percentage over 80%.

The rest of the Wings combined for 31% in shots (12 of 39), highlighting the efficiency of Bueckers, who contributed 55% of her team’s points. This percentage is the fifth highest in WNBA history and the highest since 2004.

It’s a lot of repetition in practice. And learning and growing, watching videos of how you can get to your positions, how you can attack, how you can use your teammates to screen for you, attack in transition and when teams switch on screens. Just reading the possession.

Paige Bueckers

Bueckers also scored all six free throws and the four three-pointers he attempted. In addition, he highlighted the importance of his mid-range game.

I really think basketball has moved away from that: it’s mainly layups and threes. Teams don’t know how to defend it. So I think it’s an advantage when you can score in the mid-range.

Paige Bueckers

Bueckers’ 44 points, the most scored by any player in the WNBA this season, put her in third place in franchise history.

The previous record for a rookie in the WNBA was 40 points, set by Candace Parker in 2008. Bueckers, who has proven to be an outstanding player since her days at the University of Connecticut, is a strong candidate for the 2025 Rookie of the Year award.

She takes what the defense gives her all over the court. She just plays at her own pace. You can’t speed her up. It’s really impressive for a rookie in this league to be able to maintain her own speed and rhythm. I think that helps her to be able to read the defense.

Chris Koclanes, Dallas Coach

Bueckers reflected on his outstanding performance, especially considering the injuries he has overcome.

People have seen the difficulties… the injuries, the ups and downs. That people continue to follow me and still believe in me, really means a lot. I will never take that for granted.

Paige Bueckers

The Sparks are still competing for a playoff spot, while Dallas, with a 9-27 record, has been eliminated from playoff contention. However, Bueckers emphasized the importance of continuing to fight as a team.

I’ve always prided myself on the team winning, so that’s obviously the main goal. I’m so proud of this team and the way we fight. This team means so much to me. The way we invest in each other. We love each other. It could be easy for us to be [9-27] and be miserable and hate coming to work, but we show up for each other. We’re learning and growing together. What we’re building here makes me very happy.

Paige Bueckers