Paige Bueckers lit up Los Angeles on Wednesday night, setting a new WNBA rookie scoring record with 44 points. However, the Dallas Wings guard's remarkable performance wasn’t enough to grab the win, as Los Angeles Sparks star Kelsey Plum buried a last-second shot to seal an 81-80 victory at Crypto.com Arena.

The Dallas Wings visit the LA Sparks at Crypto.com Arena as LA fights to stay alive in the WNBA playoff chase, sitting one game back of Seattle.

Lobo’s remark reinforced a growing sentiment across the league that the award is no longer up for debate. While Washington Mystics ’ Sonia Citron had been mounting a strong challenge with steady play, Bueckers’ breakout performance shifted momentum heavily in her favor.

Los Angeles (17-18) defeated Dallas (9-27), 81-80, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. Rickea Jackson started and played 33 minutes for the Sparks. She totaled 25 points, five rebounds and two steals. Jackson converted 9-of-15 field goal attempts, 6-of-7 three-point attempts and 1-of-1 free throw attempts.

Actor Shemar Moore surprised his big fan, WNBA star Paige Bueckers, at the Dallas Wings road game against the LA Sparks in Los Angeles on Aug. 20.

With 2 1/2 weeks left in the WNBA’s regular season, the league has already broken its single-season attendance record.

Plum is on pace to match Taurasi with two such seasons and turns 31 later in August (Taurasi turned 31 in June of the season she FIRST notched 20-plus and five-plus feat). So since we know her averages, it’s no surprise that Plum tied the WNBA record for most 20 and five games in a single season with her 18th of 2025 on Sunday.

Sparks veteran forward Azurá Stevens spoke about the team’s growth following their win on Friday against the Wings.