BACKPanini Instant WNBA Recap: Paige Bueckers Erupts for Record 44 Points
Written by: Dallin Duffy
Dallas Wings’ rookie Paige Bueckers erupted for 44 points during a thrilling matchup vs. the Sparks that came down to the wire. The phenom connected on 17-of-21 tries from the field and added six free throws to achieve that eye-popping tally.
In addition to being the most points scored by any player this season, it also set the WNBA rookie record. She tied Cynthia Cooper-Dyke for the first-year player record (during the 1997 inaugural season, when all players were first-year) and broke Candace Parker’s true rookie record. Parker had 40 against Houston in 2008.
Adding another notch to her accolade-filled night, she also tied the franchise record for field-goal makes in a game and became the first player in league history to score at least 40 points with a FG percentage of at least 80.0.
For her headline-making effort, Bueckers earned the VIP treatment from Panini Instant. The playmaker racked up a handful of Instant cards throughout the opening portion of her rookie campaign, and one celebrating her 44-point performance was a no-brainer addition.
You can pick up the exclusive collectible, as well as a Kelsey Plum card from the same game, on Panini’s webstore for a limited time. Check up on th Instant portal frequently, especially if you’re building a Bueckers collection. It’s only a matter of time before she wows again and secures another card.
