After securing a WNBA All-Star win just days ago, Paige Bueckers etched her name alongside Caitlin Clark in the WNBA record books.
On Tuesday, Bueckers racked up 14 points, six assists, and four rebounds on 5-of-11 shooting, playing a major role in the Dallas Wings‘ dominant 8763 road victory over the Seattle Storm.
While the Storm held a slim lead at halftime, Dallas seized the momentum in the second half, outscoring Seattle by a resounding 5327, to not only snap a four-game losing streak but also deliver a statement performance from its rookie leader.
Tying a record, making a statement
In her 18th professional game, Bueckers matched the record set by Caitlin Clark as the quickest player in WNBA history to reach 300 total points and 100 assists.
That’s elite company, and an especially impressive feat considering Clark first set the pace less than two seasons ago.
Dallas leaned into Bueckers‘ playmaking, allowing her to drive the offense and dictate terms against Seattle‘s defense.
Hitting the milestone so early highlights her dual-threat ability as both a scorer and facilitator, a combination that earned her acclaim as one of the league’s most promising young talents.
Beyond Bueckers, Arike Ogunbowale sparked the offense with 20 points, including four three-pointers, fueling a pivotal third-quarter run that effectively put the game out of reach.
Luisa Geiselsoder also contributed 13 points off the bench, helping stretch the Storm’s defense even further.
Defensively, Hayley Jones stood out, delivering three blocks, seven assists, and six rebounds, making her impact felt across the court.
On the other side, Nneka Ogwumike led Seattle with 22 points but couldn’t overcome Dallas‘ suffocating defense, which held the Storm to just 30.7% from the field and a dismal 19.0% from beyond the arc.
Context and significance
Bueckers’ early-season output has routinely drawn comparisons to Clark’s historic rookie campaign from 2024, where Clark set multiple records for scoring and assists.
Bueckers already became the fastest guard to reach 250 points, 50 rebounds, and 50 assists since 1997, and she’s shooting an impressive 58.2% on midrange attempts, one of the top rates in the league.
The rookie guard also shattered fan voting records for WNBA All-Stars, earning over 805,000 votes, surpassing Clark’s rookie record by more than 100,000.
Moreover, with All-Star weekend spotlighting her with the first 4-point play (by design) and inclusion in Team Collier‘s starting lineup, Bueckers has proven she can shine on the biggest stages.
Beyond her individual accolades, this record-tying performance helped redirect momentum for a Wings squad searching for consistency.
With the win, the team evened their record at 7-17, closing in on last season’s win total, and finished the night just a few games back in playoff positioning, even with 20 games still to play.
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