The Dallas Wings will welcome the Indiana Fever on Friday for a sold-out matchup at American Airlines Center pitting rookie phenom Paige Bueckers against last season’s WNBA Rookie of the Year, Caitlin Clark.
During practice at the arena Thursday, Wings CEO and managing partner Greg Bibb emphasized to the team the significance of the moment for the organization, which plays home games at UT Arlington’s College Park Center.
Players and coaches also spoke about the importance of playing the game, dubbed “A Night in Dallas,” at AAC, which is home to the Mavericks and Stars but has never hosted a WNBA game.
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“Our players deserve this. The women of this league deserve this,” Wings coach Chris Koclanes said. “It will be fun tomorrow night.”
Wings All-Star guard Arike Ogunbowale, who has played for Dallas since 2019, said competing on this stage shows how far the game has come.
“Where we’ve been playing doesn’t hold the amount of people that want to see us play every night,” she said. “So just excited about this opportunity.”
Bueckers, a pivotal part of the women’s basketball boom, said she’s thankful for the people who paved the way for her.
“And so many people yet to come in the future that we’re still trying to build for,” she said.
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Friday’s game has been heavily marketed as “Paige vs. Caitlin,” but the Wings aren’t approaching it that way.
“This is another basketball game,” Ogunbowale said. “Obviously it’s in a bigger venue. More fans. Two big-time names in Caitlin and Paige, but I think for myself, even for Paige, we’re coming to play basketball as Dallas Wings.”
Bueckers said she’s not approaching the game differently than any other.
“Every game … is circled for me,” she said. “Every single time I get to go out there and play the game of basketball I love, it’s a blessing and I never take it for granted.”
But she does recognize how crucial the star power is in this game.
“People come in and tune in for Caitlin and end up fans of so many other athletes,” Bueckers said. “So to be able to play on this platform, to get more eyes on the game, to get more respect for the game, it’s just a great opportunity for all of us.”
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It’s unclear whether Clark will be available for Friday’s game.
The guard was ruled out with a groin injury Thursday for Indiana’s game against the Los Angeles Sparks.
Koclanes said the Wings (4-12), who started 1-11 and have won three of their last four games, will plan for Clark despite the uncertainty.
“You go in preparing for her to be there,” he said. “And then you adjust accordingly … but you go in preparing for Caitlin to be on the floor.”
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