In a thrilling yet narrow defeat to the Phoenix Mercury, Paige Bueckers etched her name into the Dallas Wings’ record books by surpassing the franchise’s single-season scoring mark. Despite the loss, Bueckers’ remarkable offensive display highlighted her growing stature in the league.
Bueckers finished the game with a total of 853 points this season, eclipsing the previous record of 849 points set by her backcourt teammate Arike Ogunbowale in 2023. This milestone also marked Bueckers’ sixth career 30-point performance and her fourth such game in the current campaign.
From the opening quarter, Bueckers carried the offensive load for Dallas. She was responsible for all the team’s points in the first period, contributing five points and orchestrating eight assists that directly resulted in scores. The Wings had an opportunity to snatch victory in the final moments, but Bueckers missed a contested three-pointer at the buzzer, allowing Phoenix to hold on for a one-point win.
Strong Individual Efforts Amid Team Struggles
Alongside Bueckers, Jessica Shepard provided significant support with 17 points, yet the duo could not contain the Mercury’s dynamic duo of Kahleah Copper and Alyssa Thomas. Together, Copper and Thomas amassed 46 points on an efficient 17-of-29 shooting, proving decisive in the outcome.
This scoring record adds to a period of historic achievements for Bueckers. Back on September 19th, during the teams’ previous encounter, she surpassed Seimone Augustus to claim the record for the most points scored through a player’s first two WNBA seasons.
Currently averaging 20.6 points and 5.8 assists per game while shooting an impressive 50.9% from the field, Bueckers has been instrumental in propelling the Wings to a franchise-best 26 wins this season.
The Dallas Wings are set to conclude their regular season tomorrow against the Seattle Storm, with a chance to secure the No. 5 seed in the upcoming WNBA playoffs at stake.