Paige Bueckers Breaks Rookie Records in Dallas Loss to Atlanta

Paige Bueckers of the Dallas Wings has made a remarkable impact in her rookie WNBA season, recently tying Cynthia Cooper's record for the fewest games needed to reach 400 points and 100 assists, both achieving it in 22 games. In a close 88-85 loss to the Atlanta Dream, Bueckers scored 21 points and dished out seven assists, surpassing Sue Bird for the second-most games with at least 15 points and five assists by a rookie, totaling 11 such games this season. Despite her milestones, Bueckers trails only Caitlin Clark, who holds the rookie record with 30 games of 15+ points and 5+ assists. Bueckers ranks among league leaders in points, assists, and steals, showcasing her scoring and playmaking versatility, and has already logged a 35-point game, equaling the WNBA rookie single-game high. The Atlanta Dream's Naz Hillmon also stood out in the same game, setting a career high with 21 points, including a game-winning three-pointer with 2.6 seconds left, and was praised by her coach for her performance. Bueckers and Hillmon's performances highlight the growing talent and excitement in the WNBA this season.