Sparks outlast Paige Bueckers’ 44 in thrilling buzzer-beater victory over Wings

Kelsey Plum delivered in the clutch, draining a jumper at the buzzer to lift the Los Angeles Sparks to a thrilling 81-80 victory over the Dallas Wings on Wednesday night. Plum’s 20-point effort capped a back-and-forth fourth quarter that spoiled a record-setting night from rookie sensation Paige Bueckers.


The No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft poured in 44 points, the most ever by a WNBA rookie in a single game. Bueckers was nearly flawless, shooting 17-for-21 from the field, including 4-for-6 from deep, and making all six free throws while adding four rebounds and three assists.



Los Angeles (17-18) built a 39-24 lead in the second quarter before Dallas (9-27) stormed back with a 13-5 run, capped by a Bueckers jumper to trim the halftime deficit to 44-37.


Rickea Jackson paced the Sparks early with 17 first-half points and finished with 25, while Dearica Hamby added 13 and Cameron Brink chipped in 11.

Dallas dominated the third quarter, outscoring the Sparks 29-15 to take a 66-59 lead into the final frame. But the Sparks responded with eight straight points to reclaim momentum.

The lead changed hands seven times in the fourth before Bueckers hit a jumper with 2:50 left to put Dallas up 79-76. Hamby tied it moments later, but Bueckers sank a technical free throw with just over a minute remaining to edge the Wings ahead 80-79.

That set up Plum’s decisive shot after a Dallas miss in the final seconds, handing the Sparks a dramatic win and the Wings their second straight loss.