Aug 20, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA;Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) shoots the ball against LA Sparks forward Rickea Jackson (2) in the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Sparks Win Causes Paige Bueckers to Reflect on Emotional WNBA Journey, Career-High

Originally posted on Los Angeles Sparks on SI
By Ben Geffner | Last updated Aug 21, 2025 5:07 PM ET

Los Angeles Sparks' star guard Kelsey Plum, who, with her team down by one point on its final possession of Wednesday night's contest against the Wings, converted on a game-winning layup to outlast Dallas, 81-80.

The timely win propelled the Sparks to 17-18 on the season, just one victory shy of reaching .500. Furthermore, L.A. is now 7-0 in its last seven games decided by four points or fewer.

Following a buzzer-beater ending to Sparks vs Wings, here’s Kelsey Plum on allowing Paige Bueckers to score 44 points:

“We gotta play some f—-ing defense.” pic.twitter.com/3fO3jzJRJm
— Ben Geffner (@BenGeffner) August 21, 2025

After the win, Plum was asked about keys to lasting success as the 2025 regular season winds down and the Sparks still searching for a playoff spot.

"We gotta play some f---ing defense," she said.

Though the comment was made in relation to future goals for the purple and gold to key in on, it came immediately after the Sparks allowed a career-high 44-point effort by Wings' star rookie Paige Bueckers.

Bueckers, a leading candidate for this year's Rookie of the Year Award, commented on her overall success as a rookie in the WNBA folloiwing Dallas' defeat.

“People have gotten to see the struggle, the injuries, the times where I couldn’t play … For me to have [this] story and people to continue to believe in me, it means a lot," she said.

Paige Bueckers on scoring a career-high 44 points, and her overall success as a rookie in the WNBA:

“People have gotten to see the struggle, the injuries, the times where I couldn’t play … For me to have [this] story and people to continue to believe in me, it means a lot.” pic.twitter.com/ZtRDg0mImI
— Ben Geffner (@BenGeffner) August 21, 2025

After letting Bueckers and the Wings race out to a 9-0 start on Wednesday, the Sparks made an improved effort through the latter three frames to limit Dallas' red-hot offense.

An offensive masterclass by Plum, Rickea Jackson and others contributed to a balanced home scoring attack at Crypto.com Arena. With L.A. in dangerous territory late, Plum provided the exclamation point.

The Sparks look to build recent momentum next Tuesday, when they host the Phoenix Mercury.

This article first appeared on Los Angeles Sparks on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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