Former Husky Kelsey Plum nails buzzer-beating game-winner in thrilling game

WNBA rookie Paige Bueckers made her name a trending topic on social media last night after an all-time performance in last night’s contest between her Dallas Wings and the Los Angeles Sparks, but it was UW alum Kelsey Plum who emerged victorious on the actual court.

In a tight game down 80-79, Plum shook off multiple Wings defenders before getting into the paint and releasing a high-arching floater that banked into the net as time expired, capping off a riveting game at the Crypto.com arena in Los Angeles.

That game-winning shot gave Plum 20 points on the night, a clutch moment in what was otherwise a shaky performance for the Husky legend. She struggled with efficiency from every spot on the floor: one for nine from 3-point range, one for three from the free-throw line, and nine for 23 in totality.

But in sports, the misses fade quickly when you hit the one that counts. 

It was a different kind of former Husky, a UConn alum and number one pick in the most recent WNBA draft who stole the headlines from Plum despite the loss. Bueckers authored one of the finest performances we’ve ever seen from a rookie, or any player for that matter, in WNBA history.

Bueckers tied a WNBA record for the highest-scoring game by a rookie with 44 points, which is also the highest total for any player so far this season. What was most impressive was her efficiency, as Bueckers couldn’t miss all night: 17 for 21 from the field, a perfect four for four from 3-point range, and a perfect six for six from the free-throw line. Her final point of the game was a technical free throw that gave the Wings the one-point lead seconds before Plum’s heroics.

For all the brilliance Bueckers displayed, Plum’s final shot added an unavoidable asterisk to the way her performance will be remembered. It was the kind of clutch moment that evoked memories of her days at Washington, where she rewrote the record books and established herself as one of the greatest scorers in college basketball history. 

The 2017 National Player of the Year finished her Huskies career as the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer with 3,527 points, a mark that stood until Caitlyn Clark broke it in 2024, and cemented her No. 10 jersey in the rafters at Alaska Airlines Arena. 

Wednesday night’s winner wasn’t about volume, it was about timing, and Plum once again proved she knows how to deliver when the spotlight is brightest.