Paige Bueckers Makes Early Statement Against Sparks' Kelsey Plum in LA
Dallas Wings' star rookie Paige Bueckers has impressed thus far in 2025, tallying over 18 points, four rebounds and five assists per contest in her WNBA debut season.
Read more: Sparks' Cameron Brink Reacts to WNBA All-Star Snubs
Bueckers, making her Crypto.com Arena debut against the Los Angeles Sparks, continued recent dominance on Wednesday night.
She led Dallas to an early 9-0 lead, pouring in six of its first nine points — one of which came on a turnaround jumper over Sparks' star guard Kelsey Plum. Bueckers managed to log eight points, two rebounds and one assist in just eight first-quarter minutes.
Paige Bueckers with a TOUGH basket over Kelsey Plum. 😳🔥
— LA Sports Report (@LA_SportsReport) August 21, 2025
Bueckers has eight of Dallas’ first 11 points. pic.twitter.com/kRJSlebWmT
Despite her early dominance, the Sparks rallied throughout the remainder of Wednesday's first half, surging back to complete a comeback and take a 18-16 lead after 10 minutes of play — one it didn't relinquish in the second frame to follow.
Read more: Sparks’ Kelsey Plum Makes Major Announcement
Paige Bueckers with a long-range triple. She’s responsible for six of Dallas’ first nine points.
— Ben Geffner (@BenGeffner) August 21, 2025
Wings lead the Sparks, 9-0. pic.twitter.com/6B65TjCB80
Impressive scores off the bench from Los Angeles' Cameron Brink, coupled with a plethora of long-range threes by Rickea Jackson, provided the Sparks with a 44-37 halftime lead over the Wings.
The pair combined for half L.A.'s first-half points — all while shooting a combined 5-for-6 from beyond the arc.
Bueckers entered halftime with a team-high 16 points on 6-for-8 shooting.
More Sparks news:
A'ja Wilson Speaks Out on Losing Kelsey Plum to Sparks
Sparks' Kelsey Plum Reacts to Georgia Amoore's ACL Injury
International Legend Reveals Reason For Rejoining LA
Sparks Waive Two Players Ahead of 2025 Season
Sparks’ Cameron Brink Revisits Feeling After Tearing ACL
For more news and notes on the Los Angeles Sparks, visit Los Angeles Sparks on SI.
Ben Geffner is an award-winning sports journalist and current student at the University of Maryland's Philip Merrill College of Journalism. A greater Los Angeles native now with countless years of extensive and dedicated experience — including beat reporting, writing, play-by-play broadcast, television anchoring, podcasting and video production — Ben remains eager to contribute as credentialed media covering the LA Sparks.
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