Bueckers' 44-point night not enough as Wings miss playoffs

Paige Bueckers delivered one of the most electrifying single-game displays of the WNBA season, scoring 44 points on 17-of-21 shooting in a late-August meeting with the Los Angeles Sparks, but the performance could not halt a collapsing Dallas Wings. The rookie star's historic night came in a loss that left Dallas eliminated from playoff contention and exposed a roster beset by injuries and instability that have overshadowed Bueckers' breakout campaign.

Bueckers' scoring outburst made WNBA history — she became the first rookie to score 40 or more points while shooting better than 80 percent — yet Dallas lost 81-80. The result underscored a recurring theme for the Wings: elite individual performances have not translated into team wins. Dallas has managed just nine victories this season and sits near the bottom of the standings, according to season summaries and team reports.

Injuries have been a primary factor. The Wings announced that rookie guard JJ Quinerly suffered a left knee ACL sprain on August 20 and will miss the remainder of the season. Team officials said Quinerly’s absence removes a key backcourt partner whose slashing play and rim pressure created space for Bueckers....