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The Indiana Fever phenom Caitlin Clark who made headlines throughout her rookie season, praised the UConn standout and freshly crowned NCAA champion Paige Bueckers as the next big name to shine on the professional stage.
After leading UConn to the national title, Bueckers is projected to be the top pick in the upcoming WNBA Draft, with the Dallas Wings holding the coveted selection. The 23-year-old enters the league with immense hype, drawing comparisons to Clark's own meteoric rise just a year ago.
“She’ll honestly fit right in,” Clark told WNBA legends Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi during ESPN’s alternate broadcast of the NCAA Championship game.
“Move the Games to American Airlines Center” – Clark on Bueckers’ Star Power
Clark also spoke highly of Bueckers' potential to fill arenas and electrify crowds, suggesting the Wings should upgrade their home court.
“[College Park Center] is fun to play in, too. It’s a small place, it’s loud,” Clark explained. “You know honestly, they should move every game to American Airlines because I think Paige has that type of draw. She’ll be able to bring those types of fans in.”
Fever vs. Wings Set to Be a Marquee Matchup
With Clark and Bueckers now poised to become central figures in the league, matchups between Indiana and Dallas are already generating massive interest. The Wings have moved one of their home games against the Fever to the larger American Airlines Center, increasing capacity from 7,000 to nearly 20,000.
It’s a clear sign that both franchises are banking on the drawing power of their young stars.
Clark’s Rookie Season Sparked Historic Growth
Caitlin Clark didn't just put numbers on the page by play; she brought a different brand to the WNBA, propelling it in visibility and revenue. A 320% increase in attendance put the Fever at the top of the league with an average of 17,000 fans per game. Out of 31 games that reached over one million TV viewers, 22 featured Clark.
Of course, her instant impact was one of the motivating factors behind Indiana's decision to put up a whopping $78 million training facility in two years. The new facility will include high-performance courts, conditioning equipment, as well as content production studios.
Can she do it like Bueckers did with Clark in repeating her magic?
Over to Bueckers now. She has the opportunity to change Dallas for the better-off-court and on. If she can replicate Clark's success, the WNBA clay will once again break records for attendance, TV ratings, and overall growth.
The WNBA Draft of 2025 will take place in New York City on April 14 over there where Bueckers is highly expected to hear her name called out. With her stepping foot on the field, the league might just see the making of its next generational star.
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