The Rookie of the Year race has been defined by Paige Bueckers‘ ability to deliver jaw-dropping performances, none bigger than her 44-point explosion against the Los Angeles Sparks earlier this week.
She tied a WNBA rookie scoring record, became the first rookie in Dallas Wings history to score 40 or more in a game, and delivered the league’s highest-scoring performance this season.
Yet instead of unanimous applause, her night sparked debate. Was this greatness, or simply the result of facing one of the league’s worst defenses?
The timing of the discussion grew louder after her disappointing follow-up. Just two nights after rewriting history, Bueckers cooled off in a 95-60 loss to the Seattle Storm, managing only 11 points.
The sharp contrast between the two outings gave critics more reason to question whether her record was truly about her skillset or the defensive collapse of Los Angeles.
Debate over Bueckers’ breakout night
On social media, fans pointed out that Dallas’ own home broadcasters called Bueckers‘ 44 points an “anomaly,” suggesting the Sparks‘ lack of defensive effort made it possible. The comment immediately drew backlash. “Instead of glazing her, the Dallas announcers said her 44 point game was an ‘anomaly’ because the Sparks played bad defense,” one fan wrote.
Numbers show the Sparks‘ defense has indeed been porous. Los Angeles ranks near the bottom of the league in points allowed (88.5 per game) and has one of the weakest defensive ratings at 109.0. Opponents are shooting nearly 46 percent against them, and even Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts admitted after a recent loss, “We’ve got to do a better job defensively. Our staff knows that, the players know that.”
Still, dismissing Bueckers‘ night entirely seems unfair. She became the first WNBA player to score 40 points while shooting at least 80 percent from the field, finishing 17-for-21 overall and a perfect 4-for-4 from deep.
She also joined legends Oscar Robertson and Elvin Hayes as the only players ever to record 40+ in both an NCAA Tournament game and a professional game in the same calendar year.
After the game, Bueckers herself broke down her approach, crediting her mid-range game as a difference-maker. “Basketball has gone away from it-it’s mostly layups and threes,” she explained. “Teams don’t know how to guard it, and it’s an advantage if you can score there.”
From record highs to a reality check
The historic night against the Sparks was quickly followed by a harsh reminder of how difficult consistency is in the WNBA. Facing Seattle, Bueckers started strong by scoring eight of Dallas’ first 12 points but faded quickly. She didn’t register a point in the second half and was pulled at the end of the third quarter with the game already out of reach.
Seattle rookie Dominique Malonga outshined her with 22 points on 10-of-12 shooting, while reserves Erica Wheeler and Tiffany Mitchell added 17 and 11 points respectively. The Storm outscored Dallas 28-15 in the final quarter and moved into playoff position with their 19th win.
For Dallas, the 35-point loss was its worst of the year and underscored a painful reality: the Wings have dropped four straight and sit at 9-28, with postseason dreams long gone. Even Maddy Siegrist‘s 12-point effort couldn’t lift the team in a game where the offense looked flat outside of the opening minutes.
For Bueckers, the juxtaposition of a record-breaking performance followed by her quietest game in weeks has fueled both praise and skepticism. Some argue that her historic night was proof of her extraordinary shot-making, while others insist that it revealed as much about the Sparks‘ defensive flaws as it did about her ability.
As the regular season winds down, the spotlight remains firmly on the 23-year-old rookie. Whether her 44-point masterpiece stands as the launching pad of a legendary career or as a one-off anomaly may depend on how she responds in the games to come.
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