Brooklyn to Host Page Bookers Spotlight
This season, for the first and only time, the Page Bookers spotlight is heading to Brooklyn.
The Liberty faced off against the Wings’ star rookie, who made quite an impression by averaging 18.5 points this season and earning a spot in the All-Star Game. Last Tuesday night, she really stood out as a top pick.
In that game, Bueckers scored 20 points, grabbed six rebounds, and dished out four assists. Now, with the Liberty a bit shorthanded, the team has the challenge of trying to contain her again in front of a crowd wearing the fifth-place jersey.
Bueckers was also named the WNBA Rookie of the Month in July. It’s worth noting, she received the recognition for a second consecutive time, averaging 18.2 points, 5.2 assists, and 3.2 rebounds in games played through Wednesday.
Looking ahead to 2024, it’s shaping up to be an exciting time as Kate Linklark entered the league as the No. 1 pick, breaking records and reshaping the game both at home and away.
Bueckers’ campaign might not have the postseason allure for the Wings, sitting at a record of 8-21 and outside the playoff picture; however, the victory over Liberty stands out as a signature moment of her tenure in Dallas so far.
This seemed somewhat unexpected, especially considering the disparity between the teams in the standings.
Bueckers now has a chance to recreate that success.
On the other side, Sabrina Ionescu has emerged as a standout, leading the league with an impressive 25.6 points per game since the All-Star break. She was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month in July.
Across the last ten games for the Liberty, Ionescu averaged 21.4 points, 6.6 assists, and 5.5 rebounds, marking her best month since last July when she averaged 23.2 points.
Her August campaign kicked off with a bang, scoring a remarkable 36 points on Sunday, setting a career high with 14 field goals made. Just a few days prior, she also scored 23 points in a game against Connecticut.
With Stewart sidelined for a while due to a right knee injury, Ionescu will be crucial in keeping the Liberty’s offensive momentum going as they try to fill the gap left by their absent stars.
