Paige Bueckers made her much-anticipated return from a concussion on Wednesday evening.
But, the No. 1 total choose wasn’t simply again on the ground for the Dallas Wings. She was higher than she has been all season, setting a brand new career-high in simply the primary half.
Bueckers, who led UConn to the nationwide championship in April, has gotten her WNBA profession off to a stellar begin thus far.
Earlier than her damage, in six video games, Bueckers was main the league in assists (6.7), on high of averaging 14.7 factors (nineteenth), 2.0 steals (tied for third) and 4.7 rebounds.
If there was one grievance, the rookie is capturing simply 33% from three-point vary, though her total capturing proportion is 43.7%.
At the very least earlier than her return to the lineup.
Bueckers would not fairly get the hype of Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark, however her sport is not far behind, and Wednesday evening was a terrific instance of that.
Enjoying in opposition to the Phoenix Mercury after lacking 4 video games, Bueckers exceeded her earlier career-high for factors, 21, with 22 factors within the first half.
Bueckers made 8-of-10 pictures from the sector. She was additionally an ideal 3-for-3 from three-point vary. Sadly, the remainder of the Wings did not supply a lot assist in what ended up because the crew’s tenth loss, 93-80.
Bueckers heated up once more late within the second half, drilling two extra triples to try to ignite a comeback, clinching her first 30-point sport within the league within the course of.
Bueckers completed with 35 factors (13-of-19), six rebounds, 4 assists and 5 three-pointers in a efficiency that was Clark-esque.
Clark reached the 30-point plateau for the primary time in her eighth WNBA sport. Bueckers did it in her seventh.
Bueckers won’t have the identical sport as Clark, however she might be simply as impactful, and this was a reminder of that.
