Paige Bueckers. Image via: Justin Casterline/ Getty Images The Dallas Wings ended a difficult season with a decisive 97-76 victory over the Phoenix Mercury. Rookie guard Paige Bueckers delivered another statement performance. While Bueckers was instrumental to her team, she also etched her name into WNBA history. By the final buzzer, she had surpassed A’ja Wilson on the all-time rookie scoring list, securing third place with 692 points.
Paige Bueckers creates WNBA rookie history with Dallas Wings
College Park Center turned into a stage for celebration, as more than 7,000 fans filled the arena. The chants matched the stakes. Bueckers had already toppled Arike Ogunbowale’s franchise rookie record weeks earlier, but this night belonged to her climb into the league’s record books.“Paige Bueckers has passed A’ja Wilson for No. 3 all-time in @WNBA history for points scored in a rookie season with 683 and counting. Bueckers has also tied Sue Bird for No. 3 in rookie assists with 191 and counting,” Dallas Wings PR wrote on X. The rookie poured in 24 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and dished out seven assists. She also passed Sue Bird on the rookie assists list, finishing with 194 for the year. Her production was efficient and commanding, the type of floor vision and confidence that made her a star at UConn. Every bucket and pass carried the weight of history, and the crowd responded to each with playoff-level energy.
Dallas Wings shift focus to building around Paige Bueckers
Dallas had endured a brutal 10-34 campaign, tied for last in the WNBA, yet the finale provided a glimpse of what’s possible. Bueckers’ performance gave fans more than just highlights, as it gave them a foundation. The Wings leaned into the moment, framing her historic night as the beginning of a new era rather than the close of a disappointing season.Her words after the game revealed that she’s ready to walk with the same tone. Grabbing the mic, she told the home crowd, “This is just the beginning.”With offseason questions looming, whether the team keeps coach Chris Koclanes, who they draft, and how they build around their rookie star, the Dallas Wings will keep up with their cornerstone in Paige Bueckers.Also Read: Mark Cuban breaks silence on Adam Silver’s claim that NBA highlights offset rising ticket and streaming costs for fans