Paige flips new WNBA page with historic 44-point night

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Paige Bueckers is hooping on an elite level right now.

The 2025 WNBA first overall pick made league history by tying Hall of Famer Cynthia Cooper’s rookie single-game scoring record on Aug. 21, 2025.

Despite the Dallas Wings falling 81-80 to the Los Angeles Sparks, Bueckers erupted for 44 points on an ultra-efficient 17-of-21 shooting performance.

Her offensive showcase matched Cooper’s 1997 record with the Houston Comets, a mark that had stood unchallenged for 28 years.

Bueckers not only joined Hall of Fame company but also registered the highest single-game scoring total in the 2025 WNBA season.

The performance bolstered her case for WNBA Rookie of the Year honors.

While Kelsey Plum sealed the game with a buzzer-beater, the postgame buzz centered around Bueckers’ masterclass in scoring.

In a crucial playoff-seeding matchup and hostile road environment, Bueckers scored 16 points in the first half, helping Dallas build a 10-point first-quarter lead.

The Sparks responded with a late surge to take control entering halftime.

The second half became a tug-of-war, with Los Angeles surging ahead by 11 before Dallas—powered by Bueckers—rallied to tie the game early in the fourth quarter.

Whether from midrange, beyond the arc, or in the post, Bueckers showcased her full offensive arsenal and responded to every Los Angeles run.

When the Sparks threatened to take over by attacking Dallas’ smaller frontcourt, Bueckers nearly single-handedly kept the Wings afloat in the final three minutes.

But her historic effort came up just short after Plum drove left and hit a game-winning floater with 7.3 seconds remaining to lift Los Angeles.

The loss extended Dallas’ losing streak to three games and officially eliminated the Wings from playoff contention with a 9-27 record.

Still, Bueckers’ 11th consecutive double-digit scoring outing further solidified her status as the Dallas franchise’s future cornerstone.