Image Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Sparks vs Wings: Los Angeles Sparks Spoil Paige Bueckers’ Historic 44-Point Performance With Buzzer-Beater Victory

Paige Bueckers dropped a stellar 44-point performance in loss against the Sparks.

Image Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Dallas Wings rookie Paige Bueckers continued her impressive form as the Los Angeles Sparks hosted the team on Wednesday, August 20. Bueckers dropped a remarkable 44-point performance, and scripted WNBA history. However, despite that, the Wings failed to get past the Sparks and suffered a narrow 81-80 defeat, marking their third straight loss. The Sparks were led by Rickea Jackson, who dropped 25 points and five rebounds.

FOURTY. THREE. POINTS.

Rookie Paige Bueckers is the first WNBA player this season to reach the 40-point mark!

DAL-LAS | League Pass https://t.co/cQdq20ZGFy pic.twitter.com/4THKhZLqln
— WNBA (@WNBA) August 21, 2025

Kelsey Plum, on the other hand, dropped 20 points, four rebounds, and one assist, while Dearica Hamby came up with 13 points, nine rebounds, and two assists. Cameron Brink also put on a double-digit performance as she dropped 11 points and eight rebounds. The victory pushed the Sparks’ tally to 17-18 in the ongoing season. Talking about the Wings and Bueckers, the 23-year-old dropped a stellar performance of 44 points, four rebounds, and three assists.

FOURTY. THREE. POINTS.

Rookie Paige Bueckers is the first WNBA player this season to reach the 40-point mark!

DAL-LAS | League Pass https://t.co/cQdq20ZGFy pic.twitter.com/4THKhZLqln
— WNBA (@WNBA) August 21, 2025

With this, she broke the rookie scoring record in the league, and became the first player in the league history with 40+ points on 80% field goals. Not only this, but she is also the first WNBA player this season to reach the 40-point mark. Bueckers was shooting 17-of-21 from the field, 4-of-4 from beyond the arc, and 6-of-6 from the free-throw line. In addition to it, she now has the third-longest streak of double-digit scoring games by a rookie in the league, at 29 games.

Kelsey Plum’s Buzzer-Beater Spoils Paige Bueckers’ Historic Performance

After trailing the opening quarter at 18-16 and the second period at 39-24, the Wings stormed back and completed a 13-5 run. Paige Bueckers pulled off a smooth mid-range jumper with 21 seconds left in the first half to close the lead to seven at 44-37. By that time, Rickea Jackson was leading all scorers at the break with 17 points. The Wings came back stronger in the second half and outscored their rivals in the third quarter 29-15.

With this, they took a 66-59 lead in the final frame, but the Sparks responded with eight straight points and got back into the momentum. The lead went to and fro multiple times in the final quarter. However, Bueckers came up with a jumper with 2:50 left on the clock to put Dallas up 79-76. She then came up with a technical free throw with just a minute left to put the Wings ahead 80-79.

Another look. Another reminder. Kelsey Plum is different ⌚️#TissotBuzzerBeater #YourTimeDefinesYourGreatness @TISSOT pic.twitter.com/m8VxuqCSpL
— WNBA (@WNBA) August 21, 2025

However, in the final seconds, Kelsey Plum came up with a decisive shot and guided the Sparks to an 81-80 win.

Dallas Wings

Los Angeles Sparks

Paige Bueckers

Garima Ranawat

Garima is a sports writer with around two years of experience in Indian sports and a newfound interest in the NBA. Inspired by the leadership of cricketing legend MS Dhoni, she wishes to bring in newer perspectives to the NBA fanatics with her writing.