When Paige Bueckers made a 10-foot jumper at the 3:22 minute mark of the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Sparks last week, she did so at the precipice of history. Already touted to be a worthy opponent of the high and mighty Caitlin Clark, her 44 points didn’t just go down as the most by a WNBA rookie in a single game. Bueckers also became the first player in league history to score 40+ points while shooting at least 80% from the field. No wonder her head coach was all smiles when he admitted post-game, “I’m as much a fan as anybody else.” Expectedly, the praise didn’t stop there.

In a beautiful moment of sportsmanship, even the fiercest of opponents are coming forward to extend credit where it’s due. On August 26, during the latest episode of the Post Moves with Candace Parker & Aliyah Boston podcast, the latter didn’t mince words. The words, “history in the WNBA,” had not even left Parker’s mouth properly when the Fever veteran gleefully took Buecker’s name. “I think when you look at Paige’s game, it’s just overall a smooth game. Like she takes her time, she’s patient. Whether she wants the post, the little turnaround jumper, she gets to her mid-range. I mean, she finds her teammates. I think that’s what makes it so hard is that she’s so poised and she doesn’t get sped up,” Boston dissected.

Notably, this comes days after her teammate Sophie Cunningham had also discussed the iconic feat on her Show Me Something podcast. “I just think she is a good frickin’ human. She is a great teammate and a phenomenal leader. I am all for that. She is likely to secure Rookie of the Year, and rightfully so,” the player, who is set to miss the remainder of the 2025 season owing to a right MCL tear, said. 

What’s even more impressive is the rest of her achievements from that very game. As per the Dallas Wings’ official website, the 23-year-old recorded the most points in a game by a player this season, tied the franchise record for most field goals made in a game (17), moved to No. 1 in franchise history for most double-digit scoring games in a rookie season (29), tied Arike Ogunbowale for No. 2 in franchise history for most 35+ point games in a rookie season (2), and also set career-highs in both points and field goals made, in the 81-80 loss. Yet, the only thing we’ve seen in her is humility so far.

Talking to ESPN‘s Michael Voepel after the game, she said, “I’ve always prided myself in the team winning, so that’s obviously the main goal. I’m most proud of this team and the way we fight. This team just means so much to me. Just the way we invest. We love each other. It could be easy for us to be [9-27] and be miserable and hate coming to work, but we show up for each other. We’re learning and growing together. What we’re building here, it just makes me so happy.”

Bueckers was already compared to Caitlin Clark due to her game style, but now, this physicality has given even more weight to this comparison. Having said that, there’s also something to worry about amid all of this…

Paige Bueckers listed as Questionable

Ahead of the Dallas Wings’ clash vs the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday night, Paige Bueckers is still listed as Questionable due to an illness, putting the onus on Aziaha James and Grace Berger to handle the bulk of the backcourt duties.

According to the latest update, she has gone through shootaround, and whether she suits up or not will be a game-time decision. Although by now it seems quite certain that she will be named as the Rookie of the Year, she would want to go out and get out of the mini-slump she is in. In her last two games, Bueckers has struggled to shoot immensely and has even seen her double-digit scoring streak snap.

As tip-off time gets near, the Dallas Wings fans will be waiting anxiously if Paige suits up to continue the mission for her unanimous ROTY.