Paige Bueckers Sets New Rookie Scoring Record in the WNBA Despite Loss
Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers set a new rookie scoring record in the WNBA on Wednesday night, scoring 44 points. Despite her outstanding individual performance, the Wings fell to the Los Angeles Sparks with a score of 81-80 at the Crypto.com Arena, due to a basket by Kelsey Plum just before the end of the match. The defeat did not tarnish Bueckers’ incredible night, who made 17 of 21 shots, becoming the first player in WNBA history to achieve 80% field goal accuracy with 40 or more points. Despite Bueckers’ effort, the rest of the Wings team underperformed, with a 31% shooting efficiency (12 of 39). Bueckers was responsible for 55% of her team’s points, the fifth-highest percentage in WNBA history and the highest since 2004.Bueckers also made the six free throws and the four three-pointers he attempted. In addition, he highlighted the importance of his mid-range game.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 set screens for you, attack in transition and when teams switch on screens. Just by reading the possession.
Paige Bueckers
Bueckers’ 44 points, the most scored by any player in the WNBA this season, ties for third place in franchise history, which was formerly known as the Shock in Detroit and then in Tulsa, Oklahoma, before moving to Dallas in 2016. Liz Cambage holds the franchise record with 53 points for Dallas in 2018.I really think basketball has moved away from that, it’s mostly layups and three-pointers. Teams don’t know how to defend it. So I think it’s an advantage when you can score from mid-range.
Paige Bueckers
Bueckers reflected on his outstanding performance, especially considering the serious injuries he overcame during his college career.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 read the defense.
Chris Koclanes, Dallas coach
The Sparks (17-18) are still competing for a postseason spot, while Dallas (9-27) is already eliminated from playoff contention. However, Bueckers emphasized that both she and the Wings still have reasons to keep fighting.People have been able to see 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
