The Dallas Wings were without Paige Bueckers for the past couple of weeks as she was in concussion protocol and then missed Sunday's loss to Minnesota because of an illness. She returned to the lineup on Wednesday in Phoenix and didn't miss a beat, dropping a career-high 35 points.
Bueckers didn't need to knock off any rust, as she hit her first six shots. She scored 22 of the Wings' 36 points in the first half. Bueckers finished the night shooting 71% from three (5-of-7) and 68% from the field (13-of-19). Along with her 35 points, she posted six rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block.
35 PTS.
— Dallas Wings (@DallasWings) June 12, 2025
Paige Bueckers is the 4th rookie in franchise history to record 30+ points in a single game. Last to do so, Arike Ogunbowale in 2019. @albertapp | #WingsUp pic.twitter.com/mPZ5brvMz3
The No. 1 draft pick entered the season as the overwhelming favorite to win Rookie of the Year, but because of her absence, she slipped down the rankings. Kiki Iriafen stole the rookie spotlight with Bueckers out, as she's averaging 14.6 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game, shooting 52.8% from the field. Iriafen's teammate, Sonia Citron, is also off to a hot start. She's averaging 13.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game.
As good as Iriafen and Citron have been, the ROY award is Bueckers' to lose. She's averaging 17.6 points, 6.3 assists, 4.9 rebounds, 1.9 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game, shooting 48.9% from the field and 45.5% from three in seven games (three fewer than Iriafen and Citron).
Paige Bueckers reminds everyone why she'll win Rookie of the Year
The Wings lost, 93-80, on Bueckers' big night, falling to 1-10 on the season, the worst record in the league. Their lone win of the season was on May 27 against the Sun. There is no way around it -- Dallas is struggling mightily. Having Bueckers gives the Wings an advantage, but she can't win games alone, and vice versa. When she's having an off night, her teammates need to step it up.
Being part of a team that is on track to finish at the bottom of the standings shouldn't hurt Bueckers' chances of winning Rookie of the Year. Going straight from college to the WNBA is an adjustment for every rookie, including Bueckers, but on the flip side, she doesn't play like a rookie. Believe it or not, she's still figuring things out. She wasn't satisfied with her outing on Wednesday, naming the things she should've done better, like using her voice.
Bueckers is the kind of rookie you want on your team, someone who is always striving for more. The best is yet to come for her, and hopefully, the Wings, too.