Caitlin Clark praises Paige Bueckers ahead of Wings-Fever

The Indiana Fever star showed love to the Dallas Wings rookie sensation.

Aug 1, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) cheers for her team during the first half against the Dallas Wings at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images / Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Paige Bueckers received major love from fellow WNBA star Caitlin Clark ahead of the Dallas Wings' matchup against the Indiana Fever on Friday night.

The Wings lost to the Fever, 88-78, despite the Fever playing without Caitlin Clark again. Paige Bueckers had a great performance with 22 points, but no one else on her team was able to score in double figures.

Before the game, a segment aired on Ion of Caitlin Clark talking and showing a lot of love to the Dallas Wings rookie sensation.

READ MORE: Dallas Wings star defender named in trade rumors

Aug 1, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) sits on the court floor after suffering an apparent leg injury during the second half against the Indiana Fever at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images / Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

"For me, you love going up against really great competitors,” Clark said of the former UConn Husky. “And for myself, I’ve always been a fan of hers and her game and the way she’s been able to carry herself.

“I just think she’s smooth in everything that she does. She’s efficient. She can shoot it, she can score the mid-range, she can get to the basket. She’s a three-level scorer. I think that what makes it so tough is there’s just so many different things that she can do. At the end of the day, she’s a winner, and those are the type of people that you want on your team.”

Ion Pregame with Caitlin and Paige pic.twitter.com/DlMg3l8gc7

— Ken Swift (@kenswift) August 2, 2025

Bueckers is having an incredible rookie season, rivaling Clark's stats from a season ago. She's averaging 18.5 PPG, 5.5 APG, and 3.9 RPG, part of the reason she was named a starter for the All-Star Game two weeks ago.

Clark missed both games in Dallas this season due to a groin injury that has continued to linger. Despite both games being moved to the American Airlines Center, Dallas fans weren't able to see the superstar play in person.

Meanwhile, the Fever picked up the slack of Clark being gone and had four scorers with at least 11 points, led by Kelsey Mitchell's game-high 23 points. Natasha Howard also had a dominant double-double with 11 points and 16 rebounds.

What Trades Should the Wings Consider?

The Dallas Wings moved to 8-21 with the loss on Friday night, going 1-3 in their homestand. They have talent around Paige Bueckers, like four-time All-Star Arike Ogunbowale, but it hasn't translated to many wins. So, should the team look to make trades with the trade deadline just five days away?

Realistically, Bueckers should be the only player not on the table. Fellow rookies JJ Quinnerly and Aziaha James should probably be safe, too, but the team needs to prioritize building the best quality team around Bueckers as quickly as possible, so if there's a strong offer on the table for Ogunbowale or DiJonai Carrington, the team needs to consider taking it.

READ MORE: Dallas Wings' former top 5 pick nearing return from injury against Indiana Fever

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