Wings take on Indiana Fever amid big-game atmosphere
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The crowd erupted as Paige Bueckers made a three-point buzzer beater at the end of the second quarter. Photo: Mercedes Oliver/NBAE via Getty Images
Women's basketball fans filled American Airlines Center on Friday night to watch Paige Bueckers' Dallas Wings play Caitlin Clark's Indiana Fever.
- The Fever announced just hours before tipoff that Clark would not play because of a groin injury. Roughly 20,400 people still showed up.
Why it matters: It was the first time the AAC has hosted a WNBA game and the largest crowd for a professional women's basketball game in Texas, per the Wings.
Context: The Wings usually play at UT Arlington's College Park Center but moved Friday's game against the Fever to the much larger AAC to accommodate more fans.
State of play: The Fever stayed ahead of the Wings throughout the night, but a Bueckers three-pointer and JJ Quinerly jump shot helped tie the game in the fourth quarter.
- The Fever won 94-86.
Vibe check: The game offered a glimpse of what Wings games could look like when the team moves to downtown Dallas.
- Some fans arrived hours before doors opened, lines for merch were hundreds of people deep at one point, and Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons tossed Wings shirts into the stands.
What they're saying: "We've always wanted to come see a game live, so it's really cool for us," said Taylor Berghan, who traveled from Brisbane, Australia, with her family for the game.
- Jasleyne Noyola, a Fever fan from the Dallas area, told Axios she was excited to watch the game even though Clark wasn't able to play.
- "It's rare to see women get a lot of recognition, especially in sports. It's really amazing that they're finally getting the recognition that they should," she said.