Before Bueckers’ WNBA preseason debut against the Las Vegas Aces on Friday night, Wings head coach Chris Koclanes was asked about the buzz surrounding Clark and the Fever in 2024—and how that attention has helped prepare both the league and his team for another "high-profile" player like Bueckers entering the WNBA.

The Indiana Fever listed Caitlin Clark as questionable with a leg issue for Saturday's pre-season opener, prompting concern among fans.

A day that started with Caitlin Clark’s triumphant return to Carver-Hawkeye Arena ended with the WNBA basking in the spotlight. No Iowa athlete in the last 80 years can match Clark’s impact, and that was on full display from the parking lot tailgates four hours before tipoff to the 117-decibel explosion when she connected on her first 3-pointer Sunday afternoon.