Paige Bueckers has mundane response to record-breaking night vs. Sparks

Paige Bueckers made WNBA history on Wednesday night, but it wasn't enough to keep her team afloat.

The Dallas Wings guard set a rookie scoring record with 44 points in the heartbreaking 81-80 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks.

The 23-year-old became just the third rookie to score 40+ points in a WNBA game, and the first to do so on 80% from the floor (17-of-21).

However, all Bueckers was focused on was Kelsey Plum's game-wi nning shot and the fact that Dallas couldn't come away victorious.

"I've always prided myself in the team winning, so that's obviously the main goal," Bueckers told ESPN.

To add insult to injury, the loss officially eliminated the Wings from playoff contention. Even so, the rookie out of UConn is proud of the way the team has continued to push through adversity.

"I'm most proud of this team and the way we fight," Bueckers said. "This team just means so much to me. Just 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, it just makes me so happy."

Bueckers just put the exclamation point on her Rookie of the Year case with Wednesday's performance.

Per Basketball Reference, the 2025 first-overall pick has averaged 19.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.1 three-pointers per game.

The Wings were always a long shot to stay in the playoff mix, and it will likely be a while before they put together a winning roster. Even so, Bueckers has the makings of a superstar and could challenge Caitlin Clark as the new face of the W.