The Dallas Wings’ disappointing season so far hit another roadblock against the Phoenix Mercury as they suffered a 30-point loss. The loss means Dallas is now 6-14 this season and heading for trouble. While the Wings’ four wins in their last six games indicated the tide was turning for Chris Koclanes’ side, the loss in Phoenix certainly stings.
However, the bright spot for Dallas has expectedly emerged in the form of their No. 1 overall pick, Paige Bueckers. Bueckers continues to settle into the league as she breaks records despite the Wings’ poor displays.
After Bueckers broke Caitlin Clark’s record for most All-Star votes accumulated by a rookie last week, the UConn alum has achieved yet another feat that puts her in elite company.
Paige Bueckers Joins Caitlin Clark in Exclusive Club
The game against the Mercury marked Bueckers’ 15th game in the league. And while the result might not have favored the Wings, the night still marked a significant one for the rookie.
Averaging 18.2 points and 5.5 assists per game, Bueckers joined Clark as the only two players to average 15-plus points and five-plus assists through her first 15 games in the league.
Paige Bueckers in 15 career games:
18.2 PPG
4.2 RPG
5.5 APG
2.6 STL + BLK
47/35/88%Joins Caitlin Clark as the only players to average 15+ PPG & 5+ APG through first 15 games. pic.twitter.com/adMbsHP3TS
— Polymarket Hoops (@PolymarketHoops) July 8, 2025
Although Bueckers was expected to make an instant impact right from the start, her inclusion in the statistic remains impressive merely due to the exclusivity of the club. The significance of the achievement is huge, as it is something not even the greatest guards in the history of the WNBA were able to achieve when they entered the league.
While guards such as Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird had impressive rookie seasons of their own, their inability to match the record could be due to the intense physicality of the WNBA. Something Clark and Bueckers admitted having a hard time with, too, though they’ve both seemed to manage it well.
With Bueckers breaking records as she moves through her rookie season, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert will be highly pleased as the league seems to have found Clark’s competitor.
While Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese was often dubbed Clark’s big rival, the disparities in their playing styles and positions and Reese’s inability to keep up revealed the hollowness of that narrative.
Bueckers, on the other hand, plays the same position as Clark and has seemed to adapt to the league seamlessly. While Bueckers entered the league this year, she was originally a part of the same recruiting class as Clark, meaning the two have been at each other’s necks for quite a while now.
The two could face off again on Sunday, as Clark is expected to return from her groin injury after five consecutive games out. This will be their first time squaring off in the WNBA, as Clark missed the meeting between the Fever and Wings last month.
