WNBA World Reacts to Paige Bueckers Tying Rookie Single-Game Scoring Record

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It was Wings rookie Paige Bueckers' world on Wednesday night.
Throughout the course of what would eventually be a devastating 81–80 loss to the Sparks, the No. 1 overall pick scored 44 points on 17-of-21 shooting. The tally ties Houston Comets guard Cynthia Cooper's 28-year-old rookie record for most points in a single game, and is also the most points scored in a single game in the WNBA this season.
43 POINTS FOR PAIGE BUECKERS!! THE MOST POINTS BY ANY WNBA PLAYER THIS SEASON ⭐⭐⭐ pic.twitter.com/LKyN33a3Y5
— Dallas Wings (@DallasWings) August 21, 2025
Bueckers has been sensational for the Wings this season, despite their lowly 9-27 record, leading the team in points (18.8), assists (5.4), steals (1.7), and blocks (0.5) per game. That's on the heels of a college season in which she led UConn to the national championship.
As she put another top-tier performance in the books, the WNBA world was loving what they saw. Here's a look at some of the best reactions across X (formerly Twitter):
Paige Bueckers after hearing people say Sonia Citron should be Rookie of the Year pic.twitter.com/UHjYBmvUWM
— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) August 21, 2025
MAN I LOVE PAIGE BUECKERS
— mia ౨ৎ ❤️🔥 TS12 (@ntltcbueckers) August 21, 2025
PAIGE BUECKERS IS THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME THERE IS NO RACE FOR ROTY I'M LEAVING HERE WITH SOMETHING IDFC pic.twitter.com/2I6C8SfC8P
— VICK ☆ (@tsvickpb) August 21, 2025
And the first 40+ game in the W this season belongs to Paige Bueckers! We made it, y’all!!! pic.twitter.com/UAaW9IxT13
— Myles (@MylesEhrlich) August 21, 2025
Rookies to drop 40+ points:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) August 21, 2025
— Candace Parker
— Cynthia Cooper
and Paige Bueckers. pic.twitter.com/q3VMeqvQGH
Paige Bueckers just had the 2nd fewest free throw attempts in a 40-point game in WNBA history. pic.twitter.com/z2DKGv4L2n
— Polymarket Hoops (@PolymarketHoops) August 21, 2025
Paige Bueckers is ROTY
— BIG MAMA 🫦 (@CourtKourt214) August 21, 2025
Paige Bueckers YOU ARE INSANE.
— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) August 21, 2025
She literally just doing whatever she wants 😭pic.twitter.com/YpdanXxriO
Paige Bueckers going crazy pic.twitter.com/TpkT878Kpy
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) August 21, 2025
Rookies in WNBA history with a 40-point game:
— Underdog WNBA (@UnderdogWNBA) August 21, 2025
Paige Bueckers (tonight)
Candace Parker
Cynthia Cooper
Paige Bueckers dropped 44 points on 17/21 and the Wings STILL LOST pic.twitter.com/MnUQ7JiXQ5
— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) August 21, 2025
I can now comfortably say Paige Bueckers clears Caitlin Clark pic.twitter.com/gbsplpoI5i
— Ar (@ArCooked) August 21, 2025
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Mike Kadlick is a contributor to the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Before joining SI in November 2024, he covered the New England Patriots for WEEI sports radio in Boston and continues to do so for CLNS Media. He has a master's in public relations from Boston University. Kadlick is also an avid runner and a proud lover of all things pizza.
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