When the Dallas Wings picked up their first win of the season after four consecutive losses, it was huge, and it all happened on the Sun’s home court. Thanks in part to the fanfare that came with Paige Bueckers at Mohegan Sun Arena, the very place where she made history with UConn. So, you know the following Bueckers commands. But just 16 games into the season, it seems even that isn’t enough. And if you’ve still got doubts? Just ask the fans!

It all unfolded as, for the first time in the WNBA, Caitlin Clark and company were set to face off against the Dallas Wings on their home court. While the game was hyped as one of the marquee matchups with two consecutive No. 1 draft picks going head-to-head, what brought even more eyes to the game was CC herself making a request to the Wings to shift more games to the American Airlines Center, where the Mavs usually play.

“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. I know we’re playing there, one of our games. Hopefully the other one gets moved too. We would appreciate that, Dallas Wings, if you could move the other one,” she shared once in a candid interview with Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird.

And then came the first day to set the tone for the next one, and everyone understood the why behind Clark’s demand. After all, the arena had sold out all its 20,000 seats. But then came the twist: the Fever announced that Clark would sit out due to a left groin injury. Just like that, the much-anticipated Paige vs. Caitlin face-off fizzled out. Still, you’d expect the stands to roar with Bueckers’ name for the most part, right? I mean, why not? Even after this game, limited tickets remain for the Wings’ upcoming home games, including June 28 against the Washington Mystics and July 3 against the Phoenix Mercury.

Now, Bueckers has been putting up solid numbers in recent games, boosting her average to 17.7 points per game. A recent WNBA ranking even shows her sitting at No. 3 among WNBA players on Instagram with about 2.6 million followers, just behind Caitlin Clark (3.2M) and Angel Reese (4.9M). She’s also got around 159,000 followers on Twitter. So yes, she’s clearly impactful. But this time around, it was CC who stole the spotlight.

Caitlin Clark signs for a lot of fans here at the AAC pic.twitter.com/mEw9lbbJ3I

— Joey Mistretta (@JoeyMistretta_) June 27, 2025

That much was obvious from the long line of fans waiting to get their jerseys, cards, and merch signed by the Fever star. Adorable, right? Well, now you can imagine how the comment section reacted to that moment.

Fans fall for Caitlin Clark once again as star makes adorable move

As fans witnessed this beautiful fan-and-star moment, they couldn’t hold back and dove into the comment section to deliver their unique takes. “Wow. Lots of excitement going on there for CC,” penned a spectator. And that seems a lot different than the theme for the night, right?

With the highly anticipated Paige Bueckers vs. Caitlin Clark face-off headlining the night, fans were treated to a “Night in Dallas” theme, presented by Albert. And not just that—from 3:30 to 6:15 p.m. CT, the Wings hosted their first-ever “Party on PNC Plaza,” featuring a mini sport court, Biergarten, live beats from DJ Don Perryon, and a special photo booth that created a commemorative fan mural – inviting fans to be part of the moment. To top it all off, everyone was encouraged to show up in Wings Western gear to celebrate in style. So you know the hype already. But while fans had plenty of other activities to enjoy, they were all focused on just one thing.

And this fan put it best: “From being sad she’s not playing to creating a memory that will last a lifetime.” And that sad emotion was quite evident. The get-in price for the game was around $190, according to SeatGeek. But after CC’s injury was announced, those ticket prices took a significant 40% drop and were then listed at $115. Of course, this isn’t the first time this has happened – when CC was sidelined after the game versus the New York Liberty, both Sports Illustrated and USA Today reported a 55% drop in ratings for nationally televised WNBA games. But when she made her comeback, ticket sales returned to normal, or better.

“That Caitlin Clark motion though,” penned another user, and rightly so. She moves people, she moves the league. According to Vivid Seats, demand for Indiana Fever tickets spiked by a whopping 82% when Clark returned from an earlier injury this season. And that kind of impact is expected again, as the Fever-Wings matchup on August 1 is already shaping up to be the most in-demand game of the entire WNBA season, with average ticket prices soaring past $500.

Jun 26, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) reacts to the action against the Los Angeles Sparks during the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Grace Smith/INDIANAPOLIS STAR-Imagn Images

So you know the kind of love fans have for CC. It makes perfect sense why she moved across the arena, continuing to sign for fans even while injured. What’s even more impressive is that the Fever have already appeared in nine of the top 10 most in-demand games this year, and we all know it’s thanks to Caitlin Clark.

“20k people showed up to see her. Even if she’s not playing tonight. Well done CC,” penned another user. Fans aren’t just buying tickets – they’re traveling hundreds of miles just to catch a glimpse of her. Her popularity has transformed Indiana Fever games into must-see spectacles, both at home and on the road. In fact, the average road ticket price for Fever games is $311, which is 168% higher than WNBA games that don’t feature Indiana. That’s the kind of draw usually reserved for once-in-a-generation stars. Remember how Hong Kong fans traveled 7,906 miles and 22 hours to see her comeback vs Liberty?

Sure, Caitlin Clark may be out with a groin injury right now, and her return date remains uncertain. But one thing’s crystal clear – whether she’s playing or not, Clark is reshaping the business and visibility of women’s basketball in real time. Still, there’s one question that keeps haunting fans: “When is she gonna actually play?” penned another user. It’s a valid concern, as this marks the seventh game Clark has missed in her short WNBA career. Unlike last time, this left groin injury is different. Head Coach Stephanie White mentioned that the Indiana Fever sensation would remain day-to-day, with the team prioritizing her long-term health.

“Anybody who’s had some of these types of injuries understands that sometimes it’s a process. She’s a quick healer, and she’s been doing everything she can to get back on the floor. We just want to make sure we’re hyper-sensitive to the big picture,” White said. But still, there’s no updated status on her return timeline, and that’s a major concern for fans, especially with Indiana set to play the Minnesota Lynx next in the Commissioner’s Cup.

The post Caitlin Clark Effect Takes Over Paige Bueckers’ Home Court Ahead Of Dallas Wings vs Indiana Fever Game appeared first on EssentiallySports.