Dallas Wings rookie Paige Bueckers scored a career-high 35 points in her return to the court Wednesday night, but it came in a 93-80 loss to the Phoenix Mercury. Bueckers, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, had missed three games while in concussion protocol and another one due to illness.

As Dallas fell to 1-10 with a 93-80 loss to Alyssa Thomas and the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday, No. 1 Paige Bueckers dropped a career-high 35 points and six rebounds on 13-of-19 from the field and 5-of-7 from deep.

Bueckers’ hot hand, however, didn’t last. She was held to just three points in the third quarter while the Mercury pushed their lead to double digits. They then opened the final period on a 9-4 burst to put the Wings away for good, which allowed them to cruise to the 13-point win.