Paige Bueckers secured her place as the 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year on Wednesday night with a remarkable 44-point victory, though her efforts were in vain as the Dallas Wings fell 81-80 to the Los Angeles Sparks at the buzzer. Bueckers’ score tied Cynthia Cooper-Dyke for the record for the most points by a rookie in league history.
However, it’s important to note that Cooper-Dyke’s record-setting game occurred in 1997 when she was already a seasoned professional at age 34. The previous rookie record was 40 points, set by Candace Parker in 2008.
Accomplishments:
- Highest-scoring game this season
- First WNBA player to score at least 40 points while shooting over 80%
- Most points scored in a WNBA regulation loss
- Tied the third-highest scoring game in Wings franchise history
EVERY. SINGLE. BUCKET from Paige Bueckers’ historic 44-point performance 🎥#WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/osydYAQIz0 — WNBA (@WNBA) August 21, 2025
Bueckers led her team with an impressive shooting percentage of 17 out of 21. The Wings briefly took the lead through a technical free throw with a minute left to play, but it was Plum’s deft maneuvering in the closing moments that delivered victory for the Sparks, sending fans into a frenzy.
KELSEY PLUM GAME WINNER 🔥🔥🔥 At the last moment, KP sinks a runner to achieve a stunning 81-80 win! pic.twitter.com/7dVq27VvIm — WNBA (@WNBA) August 21, 2025
Despite the loss, the 9-27 Wings are now officially out of the playoff race, confirming a disappointing season, while the Sparks improve to 17-18, inching closer to a playoff spot. Bueckers, drafted as the first overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft after a distinguished collegiate career at UConn, showcased her prowess and potential, averaging 19.7 points this season, leading all rookies in scoring and assists.
