Despite the Dallas Wings losing their 17th game of the season, their star guard Paige Bueckers found a way to walk out with a fresh piece of Dallas Wings history. Bueckers quickly became the focus of the team’s conversation, further bolstering her case for MVP consideration as the regular season nears the end.
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During the closely contested Wings’ 86-87 loss against the Mercury, Bueckers scored 30 points on 12-for-22 shooting. According to the Wings on social media, this led to her setting a franchise record for the most points in a season.
“When every part of the movie is the best part 🍿 >,” the Wings X post read. “Paige Bueckers has officially scored the most posts in a single season by any Dallas Wings player EVER… 850 & counting 🔢. Paige Bueckers for MVP and All-WNBA ⭐.”
Bueckers ended the night on 853 points for this season, surpassing the franchise star and her backcourt partner, Arike Ogunbowale, who scored 849 points back in the 2023 season. This game also marked Bueckers’ sixth 30-point outing and the fourth time this season she has done so.
Bueckers wasn’t alone in the scoring effort for the Wings, which also saw Jessica Shepard in double digits, scoring 17 points. The duo tried their best against Phoenix, but were unable to contain Kahleah Copper and Alyssa Thomas, who scored 31 and 15 points, respectively, on a combined 17-for-29 from the field.
Most of the output from Bueckers came in the first half. According to Dallas Wings PR, Bueckers was responsible for every single point the team scored in the first quarter, scoring five points while assisting on eight points. The team had a chance to win the game at the buzzer, but Bueckers airballed a heavily contested three-pointer, sealing the win for the Mercury, who were only up by one point.
Regardless of what happened, the kind of high-level production Bueckers has showcased is exactly why Dallas has made a push for her to be considered for the MVP this season. The guard currently averages 20.6 points and 5.8 assists per game, all while shooting 50.9% from the field and 39.9% from the three-point range.
This wasn’t the only record Bueckers has broken since returning from the FIBA World Cup. During the team’s previous game against the Mercury on September 19, their final home game for the season, Bueckers broke WNBA legend Seimone Augustus’ record for most points over a player’s first two seasons, surpassing the previous mark of 1,513 points.
It was after that game that head coach Jose Fernandez showed appreciation for Bueckers, adding that she had shown why she should be considered for the MVP award.
“I think her being more attack-minded has really opened up a lot of things for her,” he told reporters. “She has shown that she’s an MVP candidate and first-team All-League in her second year to lead this team from 10 wins to 26 wins. So she’s more than deserving.”
Bueckers has been a major part of the turnaround Dallas has gone through this season, like Fernandez pointed out. The Wings won nine games in 2024. In 2025, Bueckers was drafted first overall and won Rookie of the Year as the team improved to 10 wins. This season, with a revamped roster and #1 pick Azzi Fudd joining the team, Dallas has 26 wins, a franchise record. Dallas has established itself as a clear postseason threat, even after Fudd’s season-ending knee injury.
The team has just one game left to play this season, which will be on the road against the Seattle Storm. Dallas will hope for a win, especially since there is a real chance for the team to jump in the standings from the #7 seed to as high as #5.
Only time will tell if the MVP race will end up in Bueckers’ favor, but what is becoming increasingly straightforward is that the guard is already putting up historic numbers and has turned the Wings into a playoff contender.