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2h ago

Plum Beats Buzzer as Sparks Eliminate Wings Despite Bueckers’ Rookie-Record 44

The loss seals a short-handed season for Dallas, pushing focus to a Bueckers-led rebuild.

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Aug 8, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Wings center Li Yueru (28) during the game between the Dallas Wings and the New York Liberty at College Park Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images/ File Photo
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Overview

  • Los Angeles edged Dallas 81-80 on Kelsey Plum’s last-second runner, a result that also knocked the Wings and the Chicago Sky out of playoff contention.
  • Paige Bueckers scored 44 points on 17-of-21 shooting, setting the WNBA single-game rookie scoring record and becoming the league’s first player with 40-plus points on at least 80% shooting.
  • Rickea Jackson led the Sparks with 25 points and six threes, while Plum finished with 20 as L.A. improved to 17-18 to stay in the playoff race.
  • Dallas’ injury list grew again as rookie JJ Quinerly exited with a left-knee issue; Li Yueru is out for the season with an ACL sprain, Arike Ogunbowale has right-knee tendinitis pending re-evaluation, and Tyasha Harris is already done for the year.
  • With players missing more than 90 games this season and availability often under 10, roster pressure could force a hardship addition, underscoring the team’s depth challenges down the stretch.