One of Us WNBA Star Goes Off in Historic Fashion

The WNBA has never been a more exciting product than it is right now. Caitlin Clark hasn’t even been on the floor for the Indiana Fever and yet their tickets are selling like hotcakes.

Cheryl Reeve has the Minnesota Lynx playing good basketball. They currently own the best record in the sport, and they are doing it without superstar Napheesa Collier as she recovers from an ankle sprain.

Despite all that is happening on the court for the Lynx, it was Minnesota-native Paige Bueckers that is now taking the league by storm.

Paige Bueckers sets new WNBA rookie record

Hopkins, Minnesota native Paige Bueckers was the first overall pick by the Dallas Wings in this year’s WNBA draft. The Connecticut National Champion has played in 29 games this season, but none has been better than Wednesday night.

Paige Bueckers with a night FOR THE AGES 👑

▪️ Most points by a rookie in WNBA history
▪️ First player in league history with 40+ on 80%+ FG
▪️ Highest scoring game this year

FINAL STATS VS. LA: 44 PTS, 17-21 FGM (81%), 4 REB#WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/SJyc1t5rM8

— WNBA (@WNBA) August 21, 2025

PAIGE BUECKERS (8/20/25) pic.twitter.com/HlG9sHMwDG

— @balapattyszn (@balapattyvids) August 21, 2025

Not only had a WNBA player not scored 40 points in a game this year, but Bueckers surpassed that plateau and then some. She also did it as a rookie. The scoring outburst came against the Los Angeles Sparks, but resulted in a loss. Star veteran Kelsey Plum had some thoughts postgame after watching the rookie guard have her way with them.

Kelsey Plum asked how they get ready for the rest of their playoff push: "Yeah, we gotta play some fucking defense" pic.twitter.com/Odma9OcT5S

— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) August 21, 2025

She is averaging 34 minutes per game and 19.7 points this year. Her 47.4% field goal rate is solid, and she’s shooting 33.7% from deep.

Bueckers was dominant in college for UConn and averaged 19.8 points per game as an amateur. Only a season-ending knee injury kept her off the court, and she returned to be an immediate All-American the final two years of her collegiate career.

Related: MN Lynx Star Joins Rarefied Air With Latest Ranking

Across 123 collegiate games, Bueckers scored 40 points just once. She had 12 games with 30-or-more points as well. With Bueckers and Clark as young stars capable of filling up the stat sheet, the WNBA continues to be in a good place.

Of course, both of them will need to go battle tested veterans like Collier and teams such as the Lynx if they intend to win anything beyond individual awards.