After sitting out the last four games due to a concussion and illness, rookie Paige Bueckers returned to action for the Dallas Wings.
Despite her comeback, the Wings fell 93-80 to Alyssa Thomas and the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday, slipping to a 1-10 record in the 2025 WNBA season.
Bueckers delivered her strongest performance as a professional, scoring a game-high 35 points on 13-of-19 shooting, including 5-of-7 from beyond the arc, along with six rebounds and four assists.
Her performance made her just the second rookie in WNBA history to record at least 35 points and five three-pointers in a single game, joining Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark.
The WNBA officially recognized Bueckers’ milestone early Thursday morning, just hours after the game.
“Paige Bueckers joins Caitlin Clark as the only rookies to EVER achieve 35+ PTS and 5+ 3PM 🤯,” the WNBA wrote on X. “BUECKERS FINAL STAT LINE VS. PHOENIX: 35 PTS (career-high) | 68% FG | 5-7 3PM | 6 REB | 4 AST”
Clark achieved those numbers in the penultimate game of her 2024 rookie season, when the Indiana Fever narrowly defeated the Dallas Wings 110-109 on September 15. In that game, the former Iowa standout scored 35 points on 10-of-22 shooting, including 6-of-14 from three-point range, while adding two rebounds and eight assists.
So far, through her first seven WNBA games, Bueckers is averaging 17.6 points on 48.9% shooting, along with 4.9 rebounds and 6.3 assists per contest. In comparison, Clark wrapped up her rookie campaign in 2024 averaging 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 8.4 assists per game.
Bueckers and the Wings will continue to look for their second win of the season, taking on A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces on Friday. She won’t get her first shot at Clark until June 27, when Dallas hosts Indiana.
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