{"id":86141,"date":"2025-08-21T11:59:08","date_gmt":"2025-08-21T11:59:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/86141\/"},"modified":"2025-08-21T11:59:08","modified_gmt":"2025-08-21T11:59:08","slug":"paige-bueckers-goes-off-for-44-points-in-wings-narrow-loss-to-sparks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/86141\/","title":{"rendered":"Paige Bueckers goes off for 44 points in Wings’ narrow loss to Sparks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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Dallas Wings rising star Paige Bueckers<\/a> put together one of the best performance by a WNBA rookie in history but it was a Los Angeles Sparks veteran who spoiled the show.<\/p>\n

Bueckers, the former UConn Huskies standout who was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2025 WNBA<\/a> draft, scored 44 points in the Wings\u2019 81-80 loss to the Sparks. It was the most points in a single game by a rookie in WNBA history and the most points of any player this season.<\/p>\n

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\"Paige <\/p>\n

Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers dribbles against LA Sparks forward Rickea Jackson at Crypto.com Arena. (Kirby Lee\/Imagn Images)<\/p>\n

She was 17-of-21 from the field and made all of her four 3-point attempts. She added four rebounds and three assists.<\/p>\n

Cynthia Cooper, of the then-Houston Comets, scored 44 points in the league\u2019s inaugural season in 1997. All players were considered to be in their “first year” at the time. Sparks legend Candace Parker scored 40 points in 2008 and was the holder of the true rookie record.<\/p>\n

“I\u2019ve always prided myself and the team on winning so that\u2019s obviously the main goal,” she said. “Honestly, I think I\u2019m just most proud of this team, like, the way we fight. This team just means so much to me.”<\/p>\n

\"Paige <\/p>\n

Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers scrambles for the ball against LA Sparks forward Azura Stevens at Crypto.com Arena. (Kirby Lee\/Imagn Images)<\/p>\n

CAITLIN CLARK’S RETURN TO FEVER LINEUP REMAINS MYSTERY<\/a><\/p>\n

Bueckers is 60 points shy of Arike Ogunbowale\u2019s record for most points in a single season by a rookie. She scored 630 points in 2019.<\/p>\n

The Wings would have liked to get the win. Bueckers scored the Wings\u2019 final 13 points. But it was Sparks star Kelsey Plum<\/a> who got the final say.<\/p>\n

Plum had the ball in her hands in the final seconds and was heavily guarded by several Wings players. She got around one defender and took the ball into the paint and put up a floater.<\/p>\n

The ball went off the backboard and into the net as the buzzer sounded.<\/p>\n

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\"Kelsey <\/p>\n

LA Sparks guard Kelsey Plum shoots the ball against Dallas Wings center Luisa Geiselsoder and guard Grace Berger at Crypto.com Arena. (Kirby Lee\/Imagn Images)<\/p>\n

Plum had 20 points in the win. Rickea Jackson led the Sparks with 25 points, including six 3-pointers.<\/p>\n

The Associated Press contributed to this report.<\/p>\n

Follow Fox News Digital\u2019s\u00a0sports coverage on X<\/a> and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n