After four games away due to illness and concussion protocol, Paige Bueckers returned to the court with a performance that reminded everyone why she was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. The Dallas Wings rookie dropped a career-high 35 points in Wednesday night’s matchup against the Phoenix Mercury, becoming one of only three players in WNBA history to score 35 or more points within their first 10 professional games.
Bueckers shot an exceptional 13-of-19 from the field, including 5-of-7 from beyond the arc, and added six rebounds, four assists, a steal, and a block in 37 minutes of play. She scored 22 of her points in the first half alone, setting a new personal best and electrifying the Wings’ offense early on.
Despite her individual brilliance, Dallas fell short in the end, losing 93–80 to Phoenix. The Mercury capitalized on a lack of secondary scoring from the Wings, while Satou Sabally led Phoenix with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Still, the story of the night was Bueckers.
With this performance, Bueckers became the fourth rookie in Wings franchise history to score 30 or more points in a game—a feat last accomplished by Arike Ogunbowale in 2019. She also joined elite company alongside A’ja Wilson and Chennedy Carter as one of the only players to reach the 35-point milestone so early in their WNBA careers.
Her return comes at a critical moment for the Wings, who have struggled in her absence. Bueckers had been quietly working behind the scenes during recovery, and head coach Chris Koclanes confirmed before the game that she had cleared all protocols and would face no minute restrictions.
What followed was more than a comeback—it was a statement. In just nine games, Bueckers is showing not only her scoring power but her potential to become one of the league’s defining players.
While the Wings continue to seek their footing as a team, one thing is clear: Paige Bueckers is already a force. She has the poise of a veteran, the shot-making of a superstar, and the momentum of a player who is only just beginning to leave her mark on the league.
