DALLAS — The Dallas Wings are giving fans another chance to see a potential Caitlin Clark vs. Paige Bueckers matchup, moving the game to the American Airlines Center (AAC), home of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks.
The game, originally set for June 27, will now take place on August 1, with the Wings hosting Clark and the Indiana Fever at the iconic venue.
Revised Date After Clark’s Injury
The highly anticipated game between the two past No. 1 picks in the WNBA draft was initially scheduled for June 27. However, Clark was unable to play due to a groin injury, and the Fever defeated the Wings 94-86.
Despite Clark’s absence, Paige Bueckers shone in the game, scoring 27 points, which was the second-highest total of her rookie season.
If Clark returns from her injury, which has kept her out of the last five games, the first head-to-head meeting between Clark and Bueckers could take place as early as Sunday at Indianapolis.
Big Draw for Wings at Mavs’ Arena
Even without Clark, the Wings’ first game at the AAC last month drew a huge crowd of 20,409 fans, making it one of only eight regular-season WNBA games in history to attract over 20,000 attendees.
Among the crowd were notable figures such as nine-time NBA All-Star Kyrie Irving of the Mavericks, Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons, and Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft by the Mavericks.
Wings’ Home Court Shift
While the Wings typically play at the 7,000-seat College Park Center on the Texas-Arlington campus, the move to the AAC is part of the team’s effort to expand its fanbase.
The Wings, who relocated from Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 2016, are also planning to move into a newly renovated arena at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas in the next year or two.
The Dallas Wings are hoping that the upcoming game at the American Airlines Center will live up to the hype, especially if Caitlin Clark returns from injury to face Paige Bueckers for the first time.
With the support of a large fan base, the Wings are continuing to grow their presence in Dallas as they look ahead to future stadium upgrades.
