Kayla McBride is known as “McBuckets” to the Minnesota Lynx faithful.
She more than lived up to that moniker Sunday.
McBride made a WNBA-record 10 3-pointers as part of a career-high 43-point performance, and the Lynx drained a franchise-high 18 shots from beyond the arc in beating Dallas 103-90 at Target Center.
Her final make came off a feed from Napheesa Collier with 2:23 to play, which led to a thunderous roar from the 14,421 in attendance.
McBride wasn’t aware of nearing the record until told by Collier and associate head coach Eric Thibault.
“All I see is the rim and trying to make a play. … Just trying to win, really that’s all it is. Just hooping and trying to get a W. But when it’s going down, it’s going down. There’s no better feeling,” McBride said.
McBride’s is just the sixth 40-plus-point game in Lynx history and the most in regulation. Maya Moore scored 48 in a 2014 double-overtime win over Atlanta, and Katie Smith had 46 in a 2001 overtime win at Los Angeles.
“She an all-WNBA player — it’s disgraceful she was not an all-star — who chased Paige (Bueckers) around while dropping 43,” said coach Cheryl Reeve. “She just knows that’s her job. She embraces it, loves it.”
McBride was 16 of 21 from the field (tying a franchise-high for field goals made), including 10 of 14 from deep. Her one free-throw attempt is the fewest in a 40-plus point game in league history.
She was pulled late in the fourth quarter during a “Kayla, Kayla, Kayla” chant.
“When you have a good moment, you want to soak it all in, and I’m just very grateful. I’m 34 years old, my 13th year in the league, I’m exactly where I want to be. Coming back here in the offseason was the best decision I ever made,” McBride said.
“For her to do this and for her to feel that love was so fitting because Mac deserves all of it,” Reeve said.
Taking a feed from Olivia Miles, McBride rose and sank her ninth shot from outside the arc with 5:08 remaining for an 89-75 Lynx lead, their largest at that point.
Miles quietly finished with 20 points, and her 13 assists were one off the franchise high set by current assistant coach Lindsay Whalen in 2013 and Noelle Quinn in 2007.
“We’re such a good team when we swing the ball, and get multiple touches and force teams in rotations, make things really difficult,” Miles said. “And, obviously, when you have someone hitting shots like that it opens up so much for everyone and herself as well.
“I love passing the ball, it’s a passion of mine, definitely something I want to stick to doing. So you won’t see a shortage of that anytime soon.”
Miles and Caitlin Clark are the only rookies in WNBA history to post a performance of at least 20 points and 13 assists.
Minnesota (27-7) is making a league-best 39.6% from outside the arc.
Collier’s triple in the final second of the third quarter capped a 10-2 Minnesota run for a 76-68 lead heading into the final 10 minutes.
It was the second buzzer-beating triple for the Lynx. Miles did the same in the final second of the first half to give the Lynx a 47-45 lead.
Minnesota made nine 2-pointers in the first half and eight triples.
One day after making a season-high 15 3-pointers, Minnesota had eight in the first half, including three straight by McBride and one by Miles to go up 41-35. A 15-2 Dallas run had the Wings up 29-21 a little more than five minutes earlier.
Bueckers, the former Hopkins High School standout, led Dallas (19-14) with 23 points. Azzi Fudd, the top pick in this year’s draft who’s averaging 13.1 points per game, missed her second straight game with right knee soreness.
Kayla McBride #21 of the Minnesota Lynx goes up for a shot as Alanna Smith #8 of the Dallas Wings defends during the second half at Target Center on August 9, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. . (Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images)
Kayla McBride #21 of the Minnesota Lynx celebrates a three-point basket with Napheesa Collier #24 and teammates during the second half against the Dallas Wings at Target Center on August 9, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images)