Paige Bueckers Sets New Rookie Scoring Record in the WNBA
Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers made an indelible mark on the WNBA by setting a new rookie scoring record with 44 points in an exciting encounter on Wednesday night in Los Angeles. Despite her impressive individual performance, Bueckers’ team did not achieve victory, as a shot by Kelsey Plum, Sparks guard, just before the final buzzer, secured the win for Los Angeles with a score of 81-80. The defeat did not tarnish Bueckers’ extraordinary night, who demonstrated amazing efficiency by making 17 of 21 field goals. This makes her the first player in WNBA history to achieve a shooting percentage above 80% from the field while scoring 40 or more points.While Bueckers shone with 81% effectiveness, the rest of the Wings combined for 31% (12 of 39). The player was responsible for 55% of her team’s points, the fifth-highest percentage in WNBA history and the highest since 2004.
Bueckers, known for her efficiency since her days at UConn, talked about how she has transferred this quality to the WNBA.Bueckers’ outstanding performance included a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line and 4-for-4 from the three-point line. In addition, she highlighted the importance of her 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 screen for you, attack in transition and when teams switch on screens. Just reading the possession”.
Paige Bueckers
Bueckers’ 44 points, the most scored by any player in the WNBA this season, ties for third in Wings franchise history. The franchise record is held by Liz Cambage with 53 points 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 her great performance, considering the serious injuries she overcame during her career at UConn.“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
Despite the defeat, Bueckers and the Wings maintain a fighting spirit and camaraderie. “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. 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.”“People have been able to see the difficulties… the injuries, the ups and downs. For people to continue following me and still believe in me, it really means a lot. I will never take that for granted.”
Paige Bueckers
