Paige Bueckers continues to impress during her rookie season with the Dallas Wings, adding the highest-scoring game of the year to her resume.
According to the WNBA, Bueckers also set the single-game rookie scoring record with a 44-point performance against the Los Angeles Sparks in an 81-80 loss Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena.
(Cynthia Cooper of the Houston Comets scored 44 points back in 1997 against the Sacramento Monarchs during the league’s first season, but that total is not considered the rookie record, per ESPN’s Alexa Philippou.)
Bueckers also became the first player in the league’s history with 40-plus points on 80%-plus field goal shooting.
She shot 81% from the field and produced four rebounds and three assists in 36 minutes of play as the Wings fell to 9-27 on the season thanks to Kelsey Plum’s last-second shot.
Bueckers was named an All-Star earlier this year and entered Wednesday averaging 18.8 points, 5.4 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game in 28 games started.
Paige Bueckers stats tonight vs. Sparks
Points: 44
FG: 17-for-21
Rebounds: 4
Assists: 3
Steals: 1
Blocks: 0
Turnovers: 3
Fouls: 3
Minutes: 36
Paige Bueckers, Wings vs. Sparks highlights
When does Paige Bueckers play next?
The Dallas Wings host the Seattle Storm on Friday, Aug. 22, at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas.