The Golden State Valkyries became the first expansion team to secure a playoff spot with a win over the Dallas Wings. The hard-fought win was a team effort for the Bay Area franchise; however, Paige Bueckers was a lone warrior for the Wings.
She scored 27 points but fell just five points short of victory. Bueckers already won the Rookie of the Month award for August ahead of the game and now earns the franchise scoring record during the loss against the Valkyries.
Paige Bueckers Sets Dallas Wings’ Scoring Record
The former UConn star justified her selection with a massive rookie season production. She set multiple records, including the franchise record assists record in 34 games she played. The 2025 rookie now owns the all-time scoring record by a Wings rookie.
The 22-year-old entered the game against the Valkyries with 623 points scored in 33 games. She needed just seven points to surpass Arike Ogunbowale’s tally set in the 2019 season. Aiming for the win, Bueckers scored 27 points, taking her tally to 650 points and becoming the highest scoring rookie in the Wings’ franchise.
Ogunbowale did not win Rookie of the Year but had an impressive season, finishing third in scoring in the league. PB also ranks amongst the top scorers in the 2025 season and is a favorite to win the Rookie of the Year title.
The only competition is in the mirror.
— Dallas Wings (@DallasWings) September 5, 2025
Paige Bueckers has officially become the franchise's rookie scoring leader, landed No. 4 on the all-time rookie scoring list in WNBA history and holds the No. 1 spot for franchise rookie assists in a season 📊
𝙬𝙝𝙮 𝙨𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣? pic.twitter.com/8y0vsN3ate
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In the game, though, her efforts fell just short of the Valkyries’ total at the Chase Center. Veronica Burton and Janelle Salaun led the hosts to an 84-80 victory and secured a playoff spot. The Wings dropped their ninth game in a row, recording their worst run in the 2025 season.
Paige Bueckers Surpasses Caitlin Clark’s Numbers
Not only did the Wings guard set a franchise record, but she also surpassed Caitlin Clark’s scoring numbers in her first 34 games. In the first 34 games, the Fever guards scored 641 points, surpassing the milestone; PB now has 650 points. Also, Bueckers has already outshone Clark, showing her overall impact on the game.
Through 34 career games:
— FeverStats (@FeverStats) September 5, 2025
Caitlin Clark
— 641 PTS & 286 AST
Paige Bueckers
— 650 PTS & 180 AST
🪄✨ pic.twitter.com/2FdtmaNUzB
However, CC had 106 more assists in those games, making more influential efforts on the offensive end of the court. Also, the former Iowa star finished the season with a record 769 points—a mark seemingly hard to reach for the Wings’ rookie with just two games remaining in the season. She needs 60-point scoring nights to break Clark’s record.
Nevertheless, PB could surpass A’ja Wilson’s rookie season tally (682 points) to become the third-highest scoring rookie in the league.