Paige Bueckers delivered a night for the record books. The Dallas Wings rookie exploded for 44 points against the Los Angeles Sparks, equaling Cynthia Cooper’s legendary 1997 rookie scoring mark in a single game. Though the Wings ultimately fell 81–80, Bueckers’s performance stood out as the highest-scoring game of the WNBA season.
Her scoring display was built on ruthless efficiency, knocking down over 80 percent of her shots. Despite Dallas being officially knocked out of playoff contention, Bueckers seized the spotlight and gave a glimpse of why she has separated herself in the Rookie of the Year race.
“People have seen the injuries, the ups and downs,” she said afterward. “For them to still follow me and believe in me—it really means a lot.”
Drafted first overall in 2025, Bueckers headlines a rookie class that has made its mark quickly. Sonia Citron of the Washington Mystics, Kiki Iriafen of the same squad, and Saniya Rivers of the Connecticut Sun are all pressing their cases. Citron recently set a Mystics rookie scoring record with 537 career points and ranks top five in clutch scoring league-wide. Iriafen has established herself as one of the league’s best rebounders, and Rivers has made defensive history by becoming the fastest WNBA player to collect 30 blocks, reaching that milestone in just 31 games.
On the stat sheet, Bueckers already sits fifth in points per game and ninth in assists, a combination that underscores her two-way impact. Even with the Sparks dashing Dallas’s postseason hopes on a Kelsey Plum buzzer-beater, the night belonged to Bueckers.
Her rookie campaign is not just about numbers but about persistence, growth, and the promise of what is still to come as the league’s awards approach.
