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Michael Gallagher covers national trending news across the NFL, NHL, NBA, WNBA, college football and entertainment for Newsweek.
He brings over a decade of writing and editing experience in sports journalism, has won multiple Tennessee Press Association awards, and covered several notable events including an AFC Championship game, a Stanley Cup Final, an NHL All-Star Game, and an NHL Stadium Series.
His previous bylines can be found on Athlon Sports, Yahoo Sports, The Hockey News, Fox Sports, the Nashville Scene, the Nashville Post, Yardbarker, and SB Nation. You can read more of Michael’s work by following him on X @MGsports_.
Contributing Sports Writer
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The Dallas Wings are one of the bottom three teams in the WNBA this season, but rookie guard Paige Bueckers has been the team’s lone bright spot.
The 23-year-old No. 1 overall pick is Dallas’ leading scorer (18.2 points per game), and she also leads the team in assists (5.5 per game), steals (1.9 per game), and minutes per night (34.4).
In Wednesday’s 88-85 loss to the Atlanta Dream, Bueckers put forth another strong performance, only strengthening her case for Rookie of the Year.
The UConn alum logged a game-high 21 points, seven assists, two rebounds, and a steal, and she wrote her name in the WNBA record book in the process.
“Paige Bueckers now has the most games by a rookie in WNBA history with: 20+ PTS, 5+ AST, 0 TOV,” Polymarket Hoops wrote on X.
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It marked Bueckers’ 11th game this season with 20 or more points, her 15th with five or more assists, and fourth with zero turnovers.
But that wasn’t the only record Bueckers attained on Wednesday. She also matched a historic feat accomplished by WNBA legend Cynthia Cooper.
“Despite the loss, Paige Bueckers tied Cynthia Cooper for the fastest player to reach 400 PTS and 100 AST in WNBA history 🙌 Both did it in just 22 games!” espnW posted on X.
Despite the loss, Paige Bueckers tied Cynthia Cooper for the fastest player to reach 400 PTS and 100 AST in WNBA history 🙌
Both did it in just 22 games! pic.twitter.com/Vo7G1x0yIV
— espnW (@espnW) July 31, 2025
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Cooper, a former head coach of the Phoenix Mercury, was a four-time WNBA champion, four-time WNBA Finals MVP, three-time All-Star, three-time scoring champion, two-time league MVP, and she won an Olympic gold medal (1988) and bronze medal (1992).
Among rookies this season, Bueckers ranks first in points, rebounds, and steals per game, first in made field goals (142), fifth in blocks per game (0.7), sixth in rebounds per game (4.0), seventh in made 3s (25), and eighth in free-throw percentage (.849), per Basketball Reference.
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About the writer
Michael Gallagher covers national trending news across the NFL, NHL, NBA, WNBA, college football and entertainment for Newsweek.
He brings over a decade of writing and editing experience in sports journalism, has won multiple Tennessee Press Association awards, and covered several notable events including an AFC Championship game, a Stanley Cup Final, an NHL All-Star Game, and an NHL Stadium Series.
His previous bylines can be found on Athlon Sports, Yahoo Sports, The Hockey News, Fox Sports, the Nashville Scene, the Nashville Post, Yardbarker, and SB Nation. You can read more of Michael’s work by following him on X @MGsports_.
Michael Gallagher covers national trending news across the NFL, NHL, NBA, WNBA, college football and entertainment for Newsweek.
He brings over …
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