NBA Stars Shout Out Paige Bueckers After Record 44-Point Night

Dallas Wings' No. 1 overall pick Paige Bueckers has become their most important star as they build towards the future.

NBA Stars Shout Out Paige Bueckers After Record 44-Point Night

Paige Bueckers sets WNBA rookie single-game scoring record (Image via FirstSportz)

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When the Dallas Wings selected Paige Bueckers as the No. 1 overall pick, many felt she would storm away with the Rookie of the Year honors. However, the team’s struggles, coupled with No. 3 overall pick Sonia Citron‘s performances, seemingly threw the race wide open.

Many felt that if the latter continued her post-All-Star streak, it could confuse voters. The Mystics were a few wins away from a playoff berth, which added to the overall discourse.

The lone WNBA game today was when Bueckers and her Wings would take on the Los Angeles Sparks at Crypto.com Arena. The Wings’ playoff hopes were hanging in the balance, and a loss would eliminate them from contention.

In the first half, it seemed Dallas had given up and was struggling to keep pace with the home team. In the 2nd half, the Wings turned the tables behind their leading rookie and staged a phenomenal rally.

Paige Bueckers scored 15 points without missing a field goal, helping her team take the lead. In the 4th quarter, the Sparks decided to reply in kind, but had the 23-year-old answering on every possession.

Towards the end of the game, the Minnesota native was up to 44 points, giving the watching crowd a treat. Among them was newly-crowned NBA champion Chet Holmgren, who tweeted asking fans to tune in and watch the masterclass on display.

It seems that shoutout got the attention of others, such as Ja Morant, who tweeted this while watching the rookie take on an experienced Sparks squad.

Paige hoopin.

Ja Morant wrote

Former Houston Rockets teammates Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Jr. were also on hand to watch this performance and greeted the Wings star after the game.

Paige Bueckers’ WNBA record could rest Rookie of the Year case

The WNBA started operations in 1997. That means every player in the inaugural season was a rookie. Hall of Famer Cynthia Cooper was 34 years old when she joined the league and scored 44 points in a game against the Sacramento Monarchs.

Now that Paige Bueckers has scored 44 points, it means she is the first true rookie to achieve that feat. This sets the new WNBA record for most points in a game by a 1st-year player.

Moreover, she managed to finish with those numbers after shooting an efficient 81% from the field, another WNBA first. These records have now given her a major boost in her standing in the Rookie of the Year race.

The UConn alum is also on pace to beat friend and college rival Caitlin Clark‘s rookie single-season scoring record. Such superlative performances are only going to help Bueckers cement her status as the best young player from the 2025 draft class.

Paige Bueckers’ 44 points not enough to win

On any given night, if a player scores 44 points, that team generally wins. Not this time, as Paige Bueckers was the lone spark on an otherwise dreadful Dallas Wings performance.

Paige Bueckers' 44 points were not enough
Paige Bueckers’ 44 points were not enough (Image via Ki11a/X)

If not for her, they would have probably faced embarrassment at the hands of the Sparks. Instead, their superstar dragged them by their horns and even helped them take the lead with more than 2 and a half minutes left in regulation.

The home team came back fighting and brought the deficit down to 1 point. With 9 seconds left on the clock, the Sparks had possession, and they handed the ball to their most prolific scorer.

With the ball in her hands, Kelsey Plum shook off one defender, then drove around Wings rookie Luisa Geiselsoder to head to the basket. She threw up a floater, which hit the backboard and went straight into the basket as time expired. The Sparks won the game 81-80.

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