In a scorching game at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, rookie Paige Bueckers turned up the heat for the Wings by tying the single-game rookie scoring record, an impressive achievement early in the <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/basketball/wnba/”>WNBA season. Bueckers’ explosive performance featured 44 points on an efficient 81% shooting from the field against the Sparks, setting a new bar for true rookies in league history.
Bueckers’ 44 points equal Cynthia Cooper-Dyke’s 1997 rookie record, though Cooper-Dyke was an experienced veteran playing in the WNBA inaugural season. The previous high for a bona fide rookie was Candace Parker‘s 40 points in 2008, which Bueckers exceeded convincingly. Her near-flawless shooting—hitting 17 of 21 shots—and clutch scoring carried the Wings throughout the contest.
Additional achievements for Bueckers during this game include tying Cooper-Dyke and Arike Ogunbowale for most 35-plus point games by a rookie, scoring the most points in a WNBA game while shooting at least 80% from the field, and joining an elite group of players such as Hakeem Olajuwon, John Drew, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar who have scored 40 or more points on 80% shooting in either the WNBA or <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/basketball/nba/”>NBA. Despite Bueckers’ incredible effort, it was a narrow 81-80 loss for the Wings as Kelsey Plum sealed the result with a buzzer-beater for the Sparks. Only one other Wing, Maddy Siegrist, also managed double digits, highlighting the lack of offensive support around Bueckers.
Injury woes deepen for Caitlin Clark and Indiana Fever
Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever are facing increasingly difficult challenges this season due to a series of injuries severely impacting their campaign. Clark has been sidelined for the last 13 games with a groin injury and recently suffered a setback when she tweaked her ankle during rehabilitation.
While initially mild, this ankle injury has compounded the complications hindering Clark’s recovery, marking another hurdle in a tough year for both her and the team. The severity of the Fever’s situation intensified when teammates Sydney Colson and Aari McDonald were lost for the season to an ACL tear and broken foot, respectively, on the same day the ankle injury became public.
The injury list grew yet longer with Sophie Cunningham sidelined for the rest of the year due to a torn MCL. Cunningham denied claims that a Sun guard deliberately caused her injury during a recent podcast. Overall, the Fever’s roster troubles have transformed the team into an “infirmary,” struggling to maintain their standing.
Currently positioned sixth with a 19-16 record, the Fever are precariously 2.5 games ahead of the ninth-place Sparks. Analyst Jack Maloney evaluated their situation, suggesting the Fever face a critical decision between pushing hard for a playoff spot or scaling back to focus on rebuilding.
Maloney noted,
“Clark at her best is one of the biggest difference-makers in the league. As much as Clark has struggled this season, the Fever are still 8-5 when she plays and have a plus-9.1 net rating when she’s on the floor. If Clark is healthy come playoff time, the Fever will at least have a chance—especially with the way Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell are playing. Those three together have a plus-10.5 net rating.”
—Jack Maloney, Analyst
However, Clark’s return date remains uncertain, even to the star player herself, underscoring the urgency and frustration felt by the Fever organization and fans alike.
Additional sports highlights and key updates from around the leagues
Amid these basketball stories, several notable developments emerged across professional and college sports. Coco Gauff made headlines for firing her coach just days before the US Open, a surprising move that has drawn widespread attention. In football, Aaron Rodgers warned the Steelers’ offensive line regarding recent performances, while Myles Garrett remained tight-lipped about his latest speeding violation.
The Baltimore Orioles are set to lose closer Felix Bautista for the next year, a significant blow to their bullpen. Among NFL updates, defensive changes for the New York Jets were announced following a tough preseason loss, and the San Francisco 49ers suspended wide receiver Demarcus Robinson for three games. Meanwhile, Bears backup quarterback Tyson Bagent opened up emotionally about his contract extension. In college football, former UNC coach Mack Brown emphasized that the school is fully committed to football’s future success.
On the Little League front, teams from Irmo, South Carolina, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota, delivered exciting walk-off victories to advance toward the U.S. championship, where Las Vegas will face off against Fairfield, Connecticut, on Saturday.
Scottie Scheffler favored to win PGA Tour Championship in Atlanta
The PGA Tour season reaches its climax this week at the Tour Championship in Atlanta, where Scottie Scheffler will attempt to defend his title and secure an exceptional year’s end. Competing against numerous top contenders including Rory McIlroy and Russell Henley, Scheffler holds the status as overwhelming favorite to claim the FedEx Cup and the $10 million first prize.
The field of 30 players tees off Thursday morning, chasing the lucrative top prize that constitutes a significant career earnings boost for nearly half the participants. Scheffler’s recent performance, including his dominant showing at East Lake last season, makes it difficult to bet against him securing back-to-back victories.
Robby Kalland remarked,
“There’s no reason to jump off my choice from before the start of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, even if he’s an overwhelming favorite with a $100 paying just $150 in profits and even if it’s frankly hysterical to see someone at this odds given a field of this strength. Scheffler is comfortable at East Lake, where he won last year, and he’s playing the best golf of his career right now, which is terrifying for everyone else. Look for Scheffler for the first golfer to go back to back at the Tour Championship.”
—Robby Kalland, Golf Analyst
The first round will begin at 11:15 a.m. ET, drawing fans eager to witness the season’s final competitive chapter unfold.
Expert forecasts for a volatile Big 12 college football season
The Big 12 conference, known for unpredictable outcomes, is again sparking debate ahead of the 2025 season. After Arizona State’s surprise title run last year, expectations remain high, but skepticism lingers about whether the Sun Devils can replicate their success.
Richard Johnson cautioned,
“The Sun Devils are just an obvious regression target for me because of the amount of one-score games they had last season to Texas State, Mississippi State, Utah, UCF, and BYU. In a parity filled Big 12, it’s doubtful all those such results break their way again, add in that the Baylor team they avoided last year is early in the schedule and Utah is primed to be great and it’s doubtful to me that the Sun Devils pull off 11-2 again.”
—Richard Johnson, College Football Analyst
Meanwhile, Utah received considerable backing to clinch the conference championship after a down year in 2024, buoyed by dominant line play and potential offensive improvements. Brandon Marcello highlighted,
“If the Utes remain dominant in the trenches and somehow become more potent offensively, the Utes will be in the mix of yet another tight race for the title. They get contenders Texas Tech, Arizona State and Kansas State at Rice-Eccles Stadium, and are my pick to emerge as the victor at the top of the conference.”
—Brandon Marcello, College Football Writer
Fans of Top 25 teams across the country can find balanced optimism and caution in preseason assessments from CBS experts as they prepare for another unpredictable campaign.
Ranking the top NBA players of the 21st century
In a celebration of modern basketball excellence, CBS Sports experts unveiled their list of the 25 greatest NBA players of the 21st century. Topping the ranking is LeBron James, widely acknowledged as one of the greatest players in league history. His dominance and versatility continue to shape the sport.
The top five also include Steph Curry, Tim Duncan, Nikola Jokic, and Shaquille O’Neal, reflecting a blend of talent across eras and styles. Shaq’s place in the list is notable for his longevity and agility, unusual for a player of his massive stature.
Colin Ward-Henninger explained,
“His grace and agility were unprecedented for a man of his massive 7-foot-1, 300-plus pound frame, and the fearsome combination led to four NBA championships, three Finals MVPs, one regular-season MVP, two scoring titles, three All-Defensive selections and 14 All-NBA appearances.”
—Colin Ward-Henninger, NBA Analyst
Thursday’s top sports events schedule
Thursday’s sports calendar is packed with exciting contests across several leagues and tournaments. Golf enthusiasts will follow the first round of the PGA Tour Championship starting at 1 p.m. on the Golf Channel. Major League Baseball features the Rangers facing the Royals or Brewers playing the Cubs, with broadcasts on MLB Network at 2:10 p.m.
The Little League World Series continues with Venezuela versus Aruba at 3 p.m. and later matches featuring Las Vegas against Irmo, South Carolina, at 7 p.m., both airing on ESPN. NBA fans can catch the Sky challenging the Liberty at 7 p.m. on Prime Video, followed by the Mercury facing the Aces at 10 p.m.
In football, NFL preseason action features the Patriots at Giants game airing at 8 p.m. on Prime Video. Baseball enthusiasts can also watch the Red Sox take on the Yankees at 7:15 p.m. on Fox, rounding out a day filled with live, competitive sports broadcasts.