Charter flights replaced cramped cabins. Sold-out crowds filled arenas. Corporate sponsors started lining up. Caitlin Clark had brought more than just her game with her. Indiana Fever had to adjust quick, the league had to gear up. The players weren’t just fitting into the league anymore, the league had to fit around them too. If you ask Dallas Wings GM Curt Miller, there was a lot to take away there than just the jaw-dropping TV ratings. 

Yes, the league saw an average of 1.2 million viewership across 24 games. Merch flew off the racks, too. But for franchises, the bigger picture to note was Caitlin Clark as a whole package and how the Fever were able to handle it. Given Paige Bueckers is expected to carry around a similar impact, Miller was asked if there were any lessons he’d like to pick on for the possible arrival of his new star.

Yes, he did. 

“I think obviously Caitlin had an unbelievable impact on the court, and her adjustment was quick and very, very productive. You saw how hot Indiana and how dangerous they were late in the year,” he said. Well, we saw how the Fever went from 2-8 to begin the season to securing a playoff spot by the end of it. Clark and Kelsey Mitchell had cracked the code to make it as the top backcourt duo post Olympic break. With the Wings coming off a not-too-different situation as Fever a year ago and Paige, all but confirmed to enter, Miller may as well be looking at a blueprint.

“But I think the other thing that we all took notice of around our league is something as simple as security for our players and how to navigate the increased viewership, the increased fandom and how our players deserve to be protected and amplified at the same time, really taken care of,” he added.

Back in 2016, when Temi Fagbenle entered the WNBA, life as a rookie wasn’t exactly glamorous. Think middle seats on packed commercial flights, sprinting through layovers, and hoping your luggage made it too. Nearly a decade later, the Indiana Fever center still shakes her head at how far things have come. It took the 2024 rookie class’ arrival for the world to catch up. But it was also massive and ugly at places, with Mitchell admitting the weight of fan attention. But the franchise successfully maneuvered through it and Miller is giving credits where it’s due. 

“Caitlin’s arrival into the league, we can look at a lot of best practices to Indiana’s credit that they did, and we will all be implementing with our own players,” the GM concluded.

Bueckers is coming in with 2.7 million followers on Instagram. Her NIL valuation reads $1.4 million. Her .628 true shooting percentage actually beat Clark’s, and she averaged 1.2 points per pick-and-roll, the best of any guard in the NCAA. On defense? Her 3.4 win shares blew past Clark’s 2.1. Paige is celebrated. What’s more? The draft tickets are already soaring higher than 2024. And if she were to land with the Wings, they have got a task at hand to manage all the attention. But thankfully, it won’t be as overwhelming as the league’s first time last season. 

For sure, the UConn stand will keep their hands full. But she won’t be the only rookie occupying Wings’ minds. The franchise has two more picks and Miller has to plan for them too.

Paige Bueckers aside, Curt Miller opens up about further draft plans

Apart from their 1st pick, the Dallas Wings hold No. 12 and 14. For Curt Miller, those are just as important to build a foundation. “First and foremost… it’s adding great people,” he said. “That will be our focus…we wanted to add three-point shooting, defense, become a better rebounding team…12 & 14 are very important to us.”

Two projected names for the picks here would be Makayla Timpson and Sedona Prince. The Florida State forward averaged 17.5 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game. At 6’2″, she surprisingly has the capability to make things difficult for her opponents around the rim. Another one checking off the boxes on both ends of the floor is Prince. At 6’7″ she is an imposing defender, averaging 17.2 ppg, 9.4 rpg, and 3.0 bpg.

The Wings already have a core of veterans. Paige is coming in as a generational talent. And these two picks? Some impactful rookies! That’s as better as it can get for the franchise, given the free agency fest that is expected to set in next year.