LOS ANGELES — Before Dallas’ game against the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday, Wings coach Chris Koclanes was asked why Paige Bueckers was the rookie of the year. Koclanes was at a loss for words. “It’s just clear,” he said. “She’s rookie of the year. There’s no questions.” Bueckers put an exclamation point on what has already been a historic rookie campaign with 44 points Wednesday night, though Dallas came up one point short, 81-80, thanks to Kelsey Plum’s runner at the buzzer. Nevertheless, Bue
Koclanes was at a loss for words.
“It’s just clear,” he said. “She’s rookie of the year. There’s no questions.”
Bueckers put an exclamation point on what has already been a historic rookie campaign with 44 points Wednesday night, though Dallas came up one point short, 81-80, thanks to Kelsey Plum’s runner at the buzzer. Nevertheless, Bueckers tied Cynthia Cooper’s rookie single-game scoring record, set during the WNBA’s inaugural season in 1997, when Cooper was 34. Among drafted rookies, though, Bueckers stands alone, eclipsing Candace Parker’s 40-point effort in 2008.
In a game the Wings lost by one, Bueckers was plus-12 in her 36 minutes. The Sparks had no answers for her offense, as she shot 17 of 21 from the field and made all six of her free-throw attempts. No WNBA player has ever taken more than 20 field goals in a game and missed four or fewer before Bueckers.
She had three steals to just one turnover, and her lone mistake may have been passing the ball to Aziaha James for Dallas’ final shot instead of taking it herself.
Bueckers was already the fastest rookie in WNBA history to 500 points. She also set the Wings franchise assist record. Now, she owns another piece of league history.
(Photo: Kirby Lee / Imagn Images)
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
Los Angeles Sparks, Dallas Wings, WNBA
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Category: General Sports
