Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings were part of another close contest on Friday. Just a few days earlier, they had edged out the Indiana Fever 81-80 on Tuesday. Friday, however, saw the Wings narrowly fall to the Los Angeles Sparks, 97-96.
Bueckers led the charge for Dallas, scoring a game-high 29 points on 12-of-21 shooting, adding four rebounds, five assists, and a block over 33 minutes. Despite her efforts, the Wings recorded their 25th loss of the season.
Still, Bueckers made history in the defeat. She set a new franchise record for most assists by a rookie, surpassing Odyssey Sims’ previous mark of 142 with 146 assists. The WNBA celebrated the milestone on X, posting:
“YEAH ROOK! 🏆 Tonight in the Wings vs. Sparks battle, Paige Bueckers (146) passed Odyssey Sims (142) for the most assists by a rookie in franchise history 👏”
The achievement highlights just how impressive Bueckers’ rookie campaign has been, even if it hasn’t translated into wins for the Wings. After Friday’s loss, Dallas sits at 9-25, holding the third-worst record in the league, ahead of only the Chicago Sky (8-25) and Connecticut Sun (6-26).
The Wings will aim to bounce back on Sunday against the Las Vegas Aces at Michelob ULTRA Arena, facing a team on a six-game winning streak.
