Dallas Wings rookie Paige Bueckers is breaking records in her first season in the WNBA after being first overall. The national champion from the UConn Huskies exploded in Wednesday’s game against the LA Sparks, drawing comparisons with former first overall pick Caitlin Clark.
Bueckers dropped 44 points, three assists and four rebounds in the 81-80 loss. With 44 points, Bueckers broke former WNBA champion Candace Parker’s long-standing rookie record of 40 points in 2008. Moreover, while doing so, she etched her name in WNBA history by becoming (via ESPN reporter Alexa Phillippou’s X post):
“The player with the most points in a game by a rookie in WNBA history. The player with the most points in a game by any player this season. The first in league history to record a 40+ point game while shooting 80% from the field.”
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Under the above post by ESPN, fans shared their thoughts, with most comparing Caitlin Clark and Bueckers’ rookie seasons.
One fan didn’t hold back, writing:
“She’s way better than Caitlin Clark. Gotta respect that. 👏👏👏👏👏”
Meanwhile, another asked:
“Why are people bringing up CC? Lol”
Other fans also chimed in with strong takes:
“Paige wayyy better than cc in college and WNBA”
“Paige keep breaking the records, so proud of you Paigeyyy! 😭”
However, not all the reactions were just about the Clark-Bueckers debate. Some fans voiced concerns about the Wings’ ability to maximize Bueckers’ talent. One supporter said:
“She deserves so much more than the Wings are giving her!”
Another added: “Why is it that they don’t guard her like CC”
Small Technicality in Paige Bueckers’ Record For Most Points Scored As A Rookie in a WNBA Game
While Paige Bueckers might have earned the record for scoring most points in a game as a rookie, she didn’t necessarily break it or it depends on how one sees it. The thing is that in the WNBA’s inaugural season, Cynthia Cooper scored 44 points in 1997.
Since it was a rookie season for all WNBA players involved in that season, one can argue that Bueckers has tied the record rather than broken it. However, insider Alexa Philippou views it Cooper’s record not as a rookie mark. She wrote on X:
“Yes, Cynthia Cooper also scored 44 points in 1997, but as that was the league’s inaugural season, that is not technically considered a rookie mark.”
Yes, Cynthia Cooper also scored 44 points in 1997, but as that was the league's inaugural season, that is not technically considered a rookie mark.
— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) August 21, 2025
Apart from that, Bueckers has also achieved notable feats in her rookie season. She’s the fastest rookie in league history to reach 500 points and 100 assists in just 27 games. She’s also the fastest to surpass 60 points and 30 assists in her first five career games.
Also Read: Paige Bueckers Breaks Silence on Sophie Cunningham’s Bold Favouritism Allegations After Indiana-Dallas Showdown
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