rewrite this content and keep HTML tags (remove this from content : rewrite this content and keep HTML tags)
WNBA Makes Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark Announcement on Thursday originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
After missing the past four games due to a concussion and an illness, rookie Paige Bueckers made her return to the court for the Dallas Wings.
Advertisement
On Wednesday, even with Bueckers back, the Wings still lost to Alyssa Thomas and the Phoenix Mercury 93-80, dropping to 1-10 in the 2025 WNBA season.
Bueckers had her best game as a pro, tallying a game-high 35 points on 13-of-19 shooting and 5-of-7 from 3-point range, six rebounds and four assists.
In doing so, Bueckers became just the second rookie in WNBA history to tally 35 or more points and five or more 3-pointers in the same game, joining Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark.
The WNBA announced Bueckers’ historic achievement early Thursday morning, a couple of hours after the game’s conclusion.
Advertisement
“Paige Bueckers joins Caitlin Clark as the only rookies to EVER achieve 35+ PTS and 5+ 3PM 🤯,” the WNBA wrote on X. “BUECKERS FINAL STAT LINE VS. PHOENIX: 35 PTS (career-high) | 68% FG | 5-7 3PM | 6 REB | 4 AST”
Clark reached those numbers in her second-to-the-last game of the 2024 regular season, when the Fever edged out the Wings 110-109 on September 15. In that matchup, the former Iowa Hawkeyes star tallied 35 points on 10-of-22 shooting, including 6-of-14 from beyond the arc, along with two rebounds and eight assists.
Through her first seven WNBA games, Bueckers is averaging 17.6 points on 48.9% shooting, along with 4.9 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game. Clark, during her 2024 rookie season, finished with 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 8.4 assists per game.
Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (left) and Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (right).Vincent Carchietta, Grace Hollars-Imagn Images
Bueckers and the Wings will continue to look for their second win of the season, taking on A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces on Friday. She won’t get her first shot at Clark until June 27, when Dallas hosts Indiana.
Advertisement
Related: Paige Bueckers Makes WNBA History in Caitlin Clark’s Shadow
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
