Paige Bueckers Makes WNBA History in Dallas Wings Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Parker Johnson | Last updated Aug 21, 2025 12:06 AM ET

Paige Bueckers is now the highest-scoring rookie in a single game in WNBA history.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft scored 44 points in the Dallas Wings' 81-80 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena.

The former UConn standout did it with trademark efficiency. She shot 17-for-21 from the field, 4-for-4 from three and 6-for-6 from the free throw line. Bueckers also had four rebounds, three assists and one steal.

Paige Bueckers Breaks Candace Parker's WNBA Rookie Scoring Record Against the Sparks

Fittingly, it broke the previous WNBA single-game rookie scoring record of 40 points, set by Sparks legend Candace Parker during her rookie season in 2008. Parker won both the Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player awards that season.

BREAKING: PAIGE BUECKERS HAS SURPASSED CANDACE PARKER AND NOW HOLDS THE RECORD FOR THE MOST POINTS BY A ROOKIE IN A SINGLE GAME IN WNBA HISTORY. ‍✨ pic.twitter.com/H9PmPVehv3
— I talk hoops (@trendyhoopstars) August 21, 2025

Bueckers' Marquee Moment in Heated Rookie of the Year Race with Sonia Citron

The 2025 MVP may be a stretch for the Wings star, but this legendary performance will give Bueckers a marquee moment that will be hard to top for her biggest competitor in the 2025 Rookie of the Year race, Washington Mystics guard Sonia Citron.

Bueckers already had a 35-point performance to her name this season, which came against the Phoenix Mercury on June 11. Coming into Wednesday's game, the 23-year-old All-Star was averaging 18.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.7 steals per game.

Plum's Buzzer-Beater Eliminates Wings from Playoffs

Bueckers historic night was not enough to earn a victory for the Wings. Los Angeles guard Kelsey Plum hit a buzzer-beater to secure the victory over Dallas. Plum scored 20 points, while forward Rickea Jackson led the Sparks with 25.

The Sparks improved to 17-18 after fighting off Bueckers' remarkable performance. They finished the night 0.5 games behind the Seattle Storm (18-18) for the eighth and final WNBA playoff spot.

Meanwhile, the loss was a microcosm of Dallas' frustrating 2025 season. While Bueckers has been brilliant, injuries and roster overhaul have held them back. They were eliminated from the playoffs with the loss, dropping to 9-27 on the season.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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