Wings fall in buzzer-beater loss

Paige Bueckers scores a season high 44 points in a Wings loss to the Sparks, ending Dallas playoff hopes.

Paige Bueckers Makes History with 44-Point Game in Wings Loss as Plum Keys Sparks Win

Paige Bueckers scored a season high 44 points, the most in the league this year, but the Dallas Wings fell to the Los Angeles Sparks 81-80 in Los Angeles. The performance included 81 percent shooting, three assists, and four rebounds, yet Dallas could not hold the late lead and allowed the game winning shot by Kelsey Plum at the buzzer.

Rickea Jackson led Sparks with 25 points, while Cameron Brink contributed 11 and eight. Dallas dropped to 9-27 and is officially eliminated from playoff contention. Sparks improved to 17-18, tightening the race for the final playoff spots with the Seattle Storm and Golden State Valkyries. Earlier this season on Aug 15, Bueckers set the franchise rookie assist record with 143 assists and became the fastest rookie to reach 500 points and 100 assists.

Paige Bueckers is showing that scoring talent can shine even in a losing season. The Wings rely on a single star while other parts of the lineup struggle to contribute. This is a reminder that a great scorer does not always translate to team success.

Close games in the WNBA can hinge on one late basket. The result underscores the need for depth, defense, and consistent contributions from role players. Dallas will need to translate flashes of offense into a durable, balanced attack if it hopes to build toward next season.

Highlights

The next chapter will test how the Wings respond to this setback.