When Paige Bueckers (Efficiently) Scored 44
She’s en route to greatness.
I’ve been a fan of Paige Bueckers for a while now.
I watched her play 3x3 basketball in the Summer Olympics (or highlights of it at least) a while back, and I love how she plays because she plays the game the right way and doesn't force anything.
She just uses her skills to patiently break down the defence and if she can’t get an opening or good look, she gives the ball up to a teammate in a better situation (this is probably why she only averages 2.1 turnovers a game in her rookie season).
This is why Paige Buckets is the best rookie in the WNBA right now. It’s also how she became the first player in league history to score 40+ points on 80+ percent shooting.
On Aug. 20, the Dallas Wings’ guard went off against the Los Angeles Sparks and efficiently knocked down 44 points on 17-for-21 shooting (81 percent).
This was the most points scored by any player this season and tied the most points scored by a rookie.
However, the Wings lost via a buzzer-beating floater from Kelsey Plum.
After the game, she credited her teammates for helping her get to her spots.
Via Yahoo Sports:
“Just my teammates getting me open. Screening for me, running some off-ball actions, trying to get myself open looks,” she said. ”Just bringing the ball up the floor. (Luisa Geiselsoder) set amazing screens for me the entire night and then my teammates just looking for me, getting me the ball, getting me open.”
Additionally, Bueckers is also the fastest player in league history to reach 500+ points and 150+ assists.
In a game against the Las Vegas Aces on Aug. 17, 2025, her 28th WNBA game, she scored 18 points and dished out 4 assists.
This stat line may not look that impressive. But it did push Bueckers’ season totals (after that game) to 526 points and 150 assists to reach the milestone.
Additionally, if Bueckers gets one steal within the next three games, she’ll become the fastest player to record 500+ points, 150+ assists, and 50+ steals.
The current holder of that record is Cynthia Cooper, who did it in 33 games back in 1997.
Bueckers has been having a great rookie season as she’s currently averaging 19.7 points, 5.3 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.7 steals.
She seems well adjusted to the professional level and has been playing basketball how she likes to play basketball.
As a result, she’s outpaced the Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark to become the fastest player to reach 350+ points and 100+ assists, she became the first WNBA rookie to score in double figures in every single one of her first 29 games, and she set the Wings’ rookie record for assists.
If she keeps this up, which I’m pretty sure she will, she’ll become one of the greats by the end of her career.
Check out my eBook, This Book Will Teach You How to Play Basketball, to learn how to play basketball.
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