Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers broke the scoring record for a rookie in a single WNBA game, scoring 44 points on Wednesday night in Los Angeles. Despite her outstanding performance, the victory was not for her team, as Sparks guard Kelsey Plum scored a shot just before the buzzer, giving the victory to Los Angeles with a score of 81-80 at the Crypto.com Arena.Despite the loss, Bueckers’ incredible night did not go unnoticed. She had an impressive shooting efficiency of 17 of 21 shots, becoming the first player in WNBA history to achieve 80% efficiency from the field, scoring 40 or more points.The rest of the Wings combined for 31% effectiveness (12 of 39 shots). Bueckers was responsible for 55% of her team’s points, the fifth-highest percentage in WNBA history and the highest since 2004, when Tina Thompson of the Houston Comets scored 35 of her team’s 62 points (56%).Bueckers, known for her efficiency since her time at UConn, talked about how this has translated to the WNBA.
Bueckers also made his six free throws and his four three-pointers. 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, attack in transition and when teams switch screens. Simply read the possession.
Paige Bueckers
Bueckers’ 44 points, the most scored by any player in the WNBA this season, ties for third in franchise history, which was formerly called 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 threes. Teams don’t know how to defend it. So I think it’s an advantage when you can score from mid-range.
Paige Bueckers
A Bueckers was asked about her great game, especially considering the serious injuries she overcame during her UConn career.I’m as big a fan as anyone. 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 be able to read the defense.
Chris Koclanes, Dallas coach
The Sparks (17-18) are still in the fight for the postseason, which they have missed the last four years. Dallas fell to 9-27 on the season and has been eliminated from playoff contention. But Bueckers said she and the Wings still have something to play for.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
I have always prided myself on the team winning, so that is obviously the main goal. I am very proud of this team and the way we fight. This team means a lot to me. The way we invest. 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 are learning and growing together. What we are building here, makes me very happy.
Paige Bueckers
