Paige Bueckers Makes WNBA History Against Indiana Fever originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings snapped a five-game losing streak Tuesday night, edging the Indiana Fever 81-80 without All-WNBA guard Caitlin Clark.
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Bueckers guided the Wings to the one-point win with 16 points on 6-of-19 shooting, five rebounds and eight assists.
And she accompanied the win with a historic WNBA feat.
Bueckers Makes WNBA History
Entering Tuesday’s win, Bueckers had 11 games with at least 15 points and five assists, marking the third-most by a rookie in WNBA history. Against the Fever, she hit those marks for the 12th time, tying her for the second-most ever by a rookie, per Across the Timeline.
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Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers celebrates against the New York Liberty.Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Houston Comets legend Cynthia Cooper-Dyke tallied 12 games with these numbers throughout her first year in 1997, the WNBA’s inaugural season. She won two WNBA MVP awards in her first couple of seasons and helped the Comets win the first four WNBA championships.
Cooper-Dyke played professionally overseas for over a decade before her WNBA tenure. She also coached the Phoenix Mercury for two seasons after retiring in 2000, only to return to Houston for one year in 2003.
Caitlin Clark Holds the Record
While Bueckers’ achievement is impressive, it comes well short of Clark’s record.
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After four seasons with Iowa, Clark went on to be the No. 1 pick in last year’s draft. And she caught on quickly, recording at least 15 points in 5 assists in 30 of her 40 games (75%).
Ahead of the Fever’s 85-78 win over Dallas on August 1, Clark, who was still out, showed her respect for Bueckers. The two have only faced each other once in the WNBA, but got to go head-to-head in the 2024 Final Four between Iowa and UConn. The Hawkeyes won that game.
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“For me, you love going up against really great competitors,” Clark said. “And for myself, I’ve always been a fan of hers and her game and the way she’s been able to carry herself.”
Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers shoots a free throw against the Washington Mystics.Chris Jones-Imagn Images
“At the end of the day, she’s a winner, and those are the type of people that you want on your team.”
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
