Dallas came close, but once again it wasn’t enough. The Los Angeles Sparksedged the Wings 97-96 in a thriller, leaving rookie sensation Paige Bueckers in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
Her stat line was impressive – 29 points, five assists, four rebounds – and her 143rd assist of the season set a new franchise rookie record. She also became the fastest rookie in WNBA history to hit 500 points and 100 assists. But all those milestones were forgotten the moment her final shot clanged off the rim.
Bueckers had turned heads even before the game tipped off, arriving in the “Pink Diamond” Nike LeBron 20s, the same sneakers LeBron James debuted at the Drew League in 2022. The rookie played like she meant to honor them, attacking hard and making plays all night. But the LeBron magic wasn’t enough when the game was on the line.
A Record Night, A Familiar Ending
With 15 seconds left,JJ Quinerly nailed a huge three-pointer to bring Dallas within one. The comeback was alive. The ball was then in Bueckers’ hands, and everyone in the arena knew she would take the final shot. She created space against two defenders and launched a deep three. The ball bounced out. Game over.
The reaction online was instant. “Paige and missing game winners. Goes together like peanut butter and jelly,” one fan joked. The line stung because it wasn’t the first time. Back in June, she missed another game-winning three in overtime against Atlanta.
Some fans questioned her choice. “She could’ve passed,” one post read, pointing to Aziaha James, who looked free on the wing. But in real time, Bueckers had three Sparks defenders collapsing on her, and she chose to fire. Right or wrong, the miss was what stuck.
The numbers back the criticism. In clutch situations this season, Bueckers is just 2-for-12 from three-point range – a painful 16.7%. She keeps taking the shots, ranking third in attempts, but the accuracy is not there. Like Caitlin Clark earlier this year, Bueckers is finding out the hard way how unforgiving the WNBA spotlight can be.
Still, the rookie has already left her mark. She passed Odyssey Sims for the most assists by a Dallas rookie, and she’s hit statistical milestones faster than anyone before her. The future is bright, but the present is harsh. For now, Paige Bueckers will keep hearing the same question: when the game is on the line, can she deliver?
Read the full article here
