Dallas Wings Rookie Enters Caitlin Clark Territory After Historic Game
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Dallas Wings Rookie Enters Caitlin Clark Territory After Historic Game
Dallas Wings Rookie Enters Caitlin Clark Territory After Historic Game. Paige Bueckers returned from a one-game injury absence with another big performance on Thursday night. The 23-year-old dropped 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting, to go along with four rebounds, five assists, a steal and two triples to help lead the Dallas Wings to a 98-89 victory against the Phoenix Mercury. It was, in fact, another Wings rookie who made history on Thursday with one of her best performances of her fledgling WNBA career.
Paige Bueckers marked her return from a one-game injury absence with another big performance on Thursday night. The 23-year-old dropped 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting, to go along with four rebounds, five assists, a steal and two triples to help lead the Dallas Wings to a 98-89 victory against the Phoenix Mercury.
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It wasn’t just Bueckers who made waves in this one, though. It was, in fact, another Wings rookie who made history on Thursday with one of her best performances of her fledgling WNBA career.
The league took to social media to announce a bit of history for 22-year-old guard Aziaha James, who went off against the Mercury for a career-high 28 points on 10-of-20 from the floor, six rebounds, six assists and five triples in 38 minutes of action.
“Aziaha James joins ELITE COMPANY. James becomes the 5th rookie in WNBA history to tally a 25+ PTS, 5+ AST, 5+ REB, and 5+ 3PM game—joining Caitlin Clark (3x), Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart, and Diana Taurasi,” the WNBA posted on X.
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As indicated in the post, James was able to join Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark, among others, in the WNBA history books with the Wings rookie’s performance on Thursday night.
While James might not be in the same orbit as Clark — or at least not yet — the fact that she was mentioned in the same breath as the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year speaks volumes.
Dallas Wings guard Aziaha James poses for a photo during the 2025 Dallas Wings Media Day. Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Thanks in part to James’ heroics, the Wings have now recorded their fifth win in seven games, improving to 6-13 on the season.
Related: Paige Bueckers Grabs Attention With Pregame Outfit After Big WNBA News
Related: Caitlin Clark Gets Official All-Star Game News on Thursday
Related: WNBA Sends Message to Paige Bueckers After Her Return From Injury
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
Should Caitlin Clark be a WNBA All-Star Game starter? Our experts reveal their votes
Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier were named captains because they received the most fan votes. The WNBA is expected to unveil the 12 All-Star reserves, decided by the coaches on July 6. The captains will select teams in a draft broadcast on July 8. The league will release rankings from fan votes (50 percent), player votes ( 25 percent) and media votes (25 percent) The four guards and six players with the best score will be starters. The Fever have rocketed in popularity over the last two seasons and will host the All-Stars for the first time in Indianapolis on July 19. The Athletic’s Ben Pickman and Sabreena Merchant voted in their official ballots due last Friday, as well as how they are thinking about some critical All- Star questions. The first-time All-star should be Kayla McBride (GSGS), who has taken on a large burden for the league in the absence of Jackie Young, who has also taken on the burden.
The city is not new to hosting major sporting events, routinely hosting Final Fours and annually hosting the NFL Draft Combine, but the arrival of the WNBA All-Star Game on July 19 comes at an inflection point for the Fever, who have rocketed in popularity over the last two seasons.
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All-Star starters will be announced Monday. The league will release rankings from fan votes (50 percent), player votes (25 percent) and media votes (25 percent). The four guards and six players with the best score will be starters. Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier were named captains because they received the most fan votes.
The WNBA is expected to unveil the 12 All-Star reserves, decided by the coaches on July 6. The captains will select teams in a draft broadcast on July 8.
Before all that occurs, here is how The Athletic’s Ben Pickman and Sabreena Merchant voted in their official ballots due last Friday, as well as how they are thinking about some critical All-Star questions.
Who were your picks for All-Star starters?
(Picks in alphabetical order according to positions)
Merchant’s All-Star votes Player Team Position Skylar Diggins Seattle Guard Allisha Gray Atlanta Guard Sabrina Ionescu New York Guard Kayla McBride Minnesota Guard Aliyah Boston Indiana Forward Napheesa Collier Minnesota Forward Nneka Ogwumike Seattle Forward Satou Sabally Phoenix Forward Breanna Stewart New York Forward A’ja Wilson Las Vegas Forward
Pickman’s All-Star votes Player Team Position Caitlin Clark Indiana Guard Skylar Diggins Seattle Guard Allisha Gray Atlanta Guard Sabrina Ionescu New York Guard Aliyah Boston Indiana Forward Napheesa Collier Minnesota Forward Nneka Ogwumike Seattle Forward Satou Sabally Phoenix Forward Breanna Stewart New York Forward A’ja Wilson Las Vegas Forward
What were the hardest starter decisions?
Pickman: In terms of guards, Seattle had been more than 36 points better per 100 possessions with Diggins on the floor than off it, and she already has 44 assists this season to Ogwukime, the most of any combination. Gray leads all players in win shares and is having a career-year under first-year coach Karl Smesko. Ionescu has been more efficient on offense this season, leading New York to an 11-3 at the time my votes were due.
Whether to include Caitlin Clark was the toughest guard decision. At the time ballots were due, Clark led the league in assists and was fifth among guards in scoring. She also runs one of the league’s most difficult actions to stop when she initiates two-player action with Boston. (Clark has 40 assists to Boston this season, second-most of any pair in the league.) Though Clark’s home/road shooting splits are stark, her highs have been among the best this season.
Her availability is what has given me the most pause. Clark played only nine games at the time ballots were due because of a left quad injury. (She’s now missing additional time with a left groin injury.) She already has been named a captain, so debate over her candidacy is for naught, but reasonable cases can be made for Rhyne Howard.
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Arguments are valid for Paige Bueckers, Brittney Sykes and Kelsey Plum to receive this spot over Clark, too. Clark has undoubtedly been one of the best guards in the league when healthy, but considering there are other players on my ballot who had played just two games more than her at the time of voting, I was willing to look past it.
Merchant: Alyssa Thomas was the toughest frontcourt omission (and might have been impossible to leave out had voting not closed before Thomas’ 17-point, 15-assist game Friday). However, the frontcourt pool is incredibly deep, and she couldn’t overcome the missed time. If Thomas makes the reserve roster once she has played more — she currently isn’t in the top 50 in total minutes played — that will feel deserved.
The disqualifying factor for Clark was her inefficiency. She’s shooting below 40 percent from the field and below 30 percent on 3s. When it came down to her and McBride, it was hard to choose the player who has so many more empty possessions, especially when McBride is the superior defender on the best team in the league. Apologies also to Jackie Young, who has taken on a large burden for the Aces. Ultimately, it didn’t seem fair to reward teams with losing records with multiple All-Star starters.
Who should be a first-time All-Star reserve?
Merchant: Kayla Thornton (GSV)
I considered Gabby Williams, but her inclusion feels so obvious to me that I’ll make a pitch for a more unheralded candidate. Thornton has become the lifeblood of the upstart Valkyries, averaging career-best marks in points, rebounds, steals and fouls drawn at age 32. She has an almost spiritual connection with the fans in Ballhalla — nothing (other than a Kate Martin 3) seems to get them going like a Thornton bucket, especially one in transition. Crashing a forward pool that includes Shakira Austin, Dearica Hamby, Bri Jones, Thomas and Williams will be challenging, but Golden State deserves at least one All-Star, and Thornton’s energy, physicality and late-game execution — she’s 10th in the WNBA in clutch points per game — make her the pick.
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Pickman: Brittney Sykes (WAS)
Sykes is having a career-year under first-year coach Sydney Johnson. Known throughout her career as one of the league’s best defensive players, Sykes’ offensive game has blossomed this season. She’s scoring a career-high 19.6 points per game, while shooting a career-best 41.7 percent from 3. She’s also recording a career-high in assists (4.8), and is getting to the free-throw line more than anyone else in the league (9.6 attempts per game). Sykes is second among guards in shot attempts from less than five feet, converting an impressive 60.6 percent on those looks, as she attacks the rim with an aggressiveness that creates scoring chances for herself and teammates. As Sabreena mentioned, Williams is another first-timer lock, but Sykes should be, too.
Brittney Sykes today 🔥 • 28 points
• 6 assists
• 3 rebounds
• 6/12 FG
• 29 minutes played pic.twitter.com/upmsHDbsGC — Women’s Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) June 8, 2025
Which team should have the most All-Stars?
Pickman: Can I plead the fifth here and say no team is going to get more than three All-Stars? I would be surprised if New York, Seattle, Indiana and Atlanta don’t get three each with the Lynx potentially also getting three if Courtney Williams is selected (more on that later). For the first few weeks of the season, an argument could be made for Liberty guard Natasha Cloud’s first All-Star selection, but I think her candidacy suffered some in early-to-mid June.
Merchant: In theory, the league’s best teams should have the most All-Stars, but I expect all of Minnesota, New York and Phoenix to top out at two (apologies to the injured Jonquel Jones). It’s the second tier of Seattle, Atlanta and Indiana that will probably all get three selections. It’s a function of roster construction more than anything, as the top trio of teams simply has more depth, with fewer players putting up eye-popping stats.
Who might be snubbed?
Merchant: Hamby has been excellent for the Sparks, and her motor powers the defense and transition offense. However, it’s hard to see coaches voting for two players from struggling L.A., and Kelsey Plum figures to get more love with her top-10 scoring and assist averages.
On the subject of bad teams, Arike Ogunbowale has been an All-Star every year since her rookie season, including winning All-Star Game MVP twice, but that streak likely will come to an end this year. Her exclusion won’t necessarily be a snub considering the drop in her scoring and shooting percentages, but it is surprising in what should be the prime of her career.
Pickman: My responses speaks to the above question regarding how many Lynx will make the All-Star team. For much of the season, Williams has been the second-best player on the team with the WNBA’s best record. She is averaging career-highs in points (17.3) and assists (7.8) per 36 minutes, and her effectiveness in pick-and-roll scenarios with Collier (Williams has assisted Collier baskets 34 times this year) is central to Minnesota’s success.
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Yet, I’m keeping a close eye on whether Williams will get into the All-Star Game. She’s a veteran whose per game averages don’t jump off the page. How will coaches weigh Williams’ case against Chelsea Gray, Thornton, Sonia Citron, Kelsey Mitchell, Kiki Iriafen or Azurá Stevens? A lot of players with strong resumes might find themselves on the cut line.
(Photo of Caitlin Clark and Nneka Ogwumike: Alika Jenner / Getty Images)
‘I Don’t Want to Play Her’: Wings Coach Candid About Paige Bueckers After She Beats Caitlin Clark Record
Dallas Wings rookie Paige Bueckers has been on an absolute tear since returning from concussion protocol. She became the fastest player ever to hit 200 points and 50 assists, doing it in just 11 games. The team cited travel fatigue as a concern, which, let’s be honest, is fair. The Wings still sit at 3-12, making them the second-worst team in the league. But as long as she stays healthy and keeps rewriting the record books, you can expect her to keep rewriting the books! Let’s take a look at the other records she’s broken this season and see if she can replicate Caitlin Clark’s record-breaking season. She’s already outpacing stars like Sabrina Ionescu and Angel Reese in All-Star votes, proving she’s not just living up to the hype, she’s lapping it. But here we are, just a year later, and Paige is breaking records for fun! She’ll be 16 years old on May 16, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA.
Her health has practically become a team-wide priority, and honestly, who could blame them? Everyone remembers the injuries she dealt with in college that pushed back her long-awaited WNBA debut. This year, when she entered concussion protocol and then dealt with another illness, the Wings didn’t hesitate while hitting pause. No rushing her back, no hero ball, just rest and caution. But Bueckers? She casually mentioned having a headache. That’s it. Coach Chris Koclanes wasn’t having any of it, though: “That was the first of it, and once that was said, she went right to the doctor to make sure we’re not missing anything.” The team cited travel fatigue as a concern, which, let’s be honest, is fair. Those cross-country flights can knock out the best of us, never mind someone recovering from a head injury.
So, while she continues her good performances, the Dallas Wings still sit at 3-12, making them the second-worst team in the league. And naturally, a question mark appears around Bueckers and her health because the major chunk of responsibility falls on her shoulders. This is the same player with the kind of injury history no athlete wants in their career. Back in December 2021, Paige suffered a tibial plateau fracture along with a lateral meniscus tear in her left knee, which saw her play only 17 games during her sophomore season. Just when things seemed to be turning around, she tore her ACL in the same knee in August 2022, sidelining her for her entire junior season.
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Coach Koclanes addressed the topic in his pregame press conference ahead of the clash with the Atlanta Dream. He said, “Absolutely, I am constantly talking to our training staff and, you know, I don’t want to play her 40 minutes and we have 9 available players. We want to win games and she’s the ultimate competitor and doesn’t want to be on the bench.”
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This message from Koclanes comes as Bueckers shattered a 28-year record against the Dream, held by the legendary Cynthia Cooper and Andrea Stinson. She became the fastest player ever to hit 200 points and 50 assists, doing it in just 11 games. For context, Caitlin Clark had matched the original record by reaching the milestone in 12 games during her rookie season as well. That right there tells you just how special Paige really is!
So, it’s not ideal that Bueckers is averaging 35.8 minutes per game this season, given her injury record. It probably cannot be helped, though, for the time being at least. One of the biggest reasons behind Dallas’ struggles this season? Injuries and absences. With Maddy Siegrist, Tyasha Harris, and DiJonai Carrington out injured and Teaira McCowan, Luisa Geiselsoder away on national duty, the Wings have been hit hard. They weren’t prepared for such a situation, and frankly, no team ever is! They are down to just 9 players, and it’s far from ideal.
But as long as Paige stays healthy and keeps playing, you can fully expect her to keep rewriting the record books. Against the Mystics, she didn’t stop at one record; she broke several. Let’s take a look at the other records she broke.
Paige Bueckers continues to script history!
Watching Caitlin Clark break record after record last season was truly something special. No one thought anyone could replicate that kind of impact. But here we are, just a year later, and Paige Bueckers is breaking records for fun!
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via Imago May 16, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) reacts against the Minnesota Lynx during the first half at College Park Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Bueckers broke multiple records against the Mystics. She became the fastest player since 2006 to score 200 points. She also became the fastest player to reach 20 career steals since 2012. And it didn’t stop there. She became the 2nd fastest guard in WNBA history to reach 10 career blocks!
For sure, Bueckers is probably playing more than her body can handle right now, but that’s just who she is. A competitor who wants to play every game and win. She showed that same mentality at UConn, playing 39 and 38 games in her final two seasons with the Huskies. The Dallas Wings need her more than ever right now, given their dire situation with injuries. But even with Bueckers putting up big numbers, can the Wings actually start winning games? That remains to be seen!
Wings’ Paige Bueckers joins Caitlin Clark company with 35-point explosion vs. Mercury
Dallas Wings rookie Paige Bueckers returned from injury with a career-high 35-point explosion against the Phoenix Mercury. The 2025 first-overall pick joins Caitlin Clark as the only rookies to score at least 35 points with five or more three-pointers in a single game. The Wings fell to 1-10 on the season after a 93-80 loss to the Mercury in Phoenix. The team managed just five of 19 from three-point range, while Phoenix capitalized by sinking 15 three-pointer of their own. The Mercury led the game from start to finish with Satou Sabally leading the way with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Paige Bueckers returned to the court with a statement. After missing four games, the Dallas Wings rookie exploded for a career-high 35 points in a tough 93-80 loss against the Phoenix Mercury. The 2025 first-overall pick etched her name into the WNBA history books alongside Caitlin Clark as the only rookies to score at least 35 points with five or more three-pointers in a single game.
From the opening minutes, Bueckers was locked in. She opened the game on fire, scoring 22 points in the first half alone. She made her first seven shots and finished the night shooting an efficient 13 of 19 from the field. Beyond the arc, she knocked down five of her seven attempts, while also adding six rebounds and four assists to round out her performance.
It was a display of poise, skill, and confidence that showed why many believe she is one of the league’s next stars.
This performance puts Bueckers in rare company. Caitlin Clark first reached the mark last season in September 2024 when she dropped 35 points and drained five threes against these very same Dallas Wings. Now, less than a year later, Bueckers has matched the feat and sent a message that she belongs in the same conversation.
For Bueckers, this game was about more than just the numbers. She had been sidelined by a concussion and illness, missing four straight contests. Before her absence, she averaged 14.7 points, 6.7 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game, already establishing herself as Dallas’s key playmaker. Her return was not only a personal triumph but also a bright spot for a Wings team desperate for good news.
Despite her brilliance, Dallas continues to struggle. The Wings fell to 1-10 on the season after the loss. The supporting cast struggled to find their rhythm, with Arike Ogunbowale held scoreless in the first half. As a team, Dallas managed just five of 19 from three-point range, while Phoenix capitalized by sinking 15 three-pointers of their own. Satou Sabally led the Mercury with 20 points and 10 rebounds as Phoenix controlled the game from start to finish.
Bueckers’ performance may not have delivered a win, but it offers hope for Dallas moving forward. Her ability to take over games shows the foundation is there. With continued growth and more help around her, Bueckers could be the piece that turns the Wings into a contender in the years ahead. For now, she has proven she belongs among the league’s brightest young stars.
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Related: Paige Bueckers makes brutally honest admission after bittersweet Wings-Mercury clash
Related: Wings’ Paige Bueckers sets career-high mark in 1st half after return from injury
History, Players, & Facts
The Dallas Wings are an American professional basketball team that plays in the Western Conference of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) For the first 12 years of its existence, the franchise was based in Detroit and was named the Detroit Shock. In 2010 the team moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, and for six seasons was known as the Tulsa Shock. The team assumed its current name after relocating again ahead of the 2016 season to Arlington, Texas, a city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. In its inaugural season as the Dallas Wings, the team won only 11 games.
The Detroit Shock began play as an expansion team in 1998. The team made the playoffs the following year, though it was knocked out in the first round by the Charlotte Sting. Over the next few seasons Detroit’s record steadily declined. Head coach Greg Williams was fired in 2002 after the Shock began the season with 10 losses. He was replaced by Bill Laimbeer, a former All-Star center for the National Basketball Association’s Detroit Pistons. Under Laimbeer the Shock quickly transformed into one of the league’s dominant teams. In 2003 the team posted a league-best 25–9 record and advanced to the finals, where it captured the championship by defeating the Los Angeles Sparks.
Detroit strengthened its lineup by acquiring high-scoring veteran guard Katie Smith in a trade in 2005. The Shock returned to the finals in 2006 and defeated the Sacramento Monarchs in a five-game series for the title. Detroit again led the league with a 24–10 record in 2007 but lost in the finals that year to the Phoenix Mercury. In 2008 the Shock made its third consecutive finals appearance, and the team claimed another championship by sweeping the San Antonio Silver Stars in three games. Smith, who averaged 21.7 points per game in the finals, was named Most Valuable Player of the series.
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After moving to Tulsa, the Shock underwent a rebuilding period that included several coaching changes. The team endured five losing seasons between 2010 and 2014. In 2015, however, head coach Fred Williams guided the team to an 18–16 record and an appearance in the Western Conference semifinals, where the Shock fell to the Mercury. Before the completion of the 2015 season the WNBA approved the franchise’s plans to move to Arlington for 2016. In its inaugural season as the Dallas Wings, the team won only 11 games, which placed it near the bottom of the Western Conference standings. The Wings fared better in 2017 and 2018, when they qualified for the playoffs. In the 2019 WNBA draft the team selected guard Arike Ogunbowale of the University of Notre Dame with the fifth overall pick. Although several losing seasons followed for the Wings, Ogunbowale established herself as one of the league’s best players, and Dallas returned to the WNBA playoffs in 2021.