History was made at Butler this weekend after legendary venue Hinkle Fieldhouse hosted a sellout crowd for a women’s basketball game for the first time ever. The Bulldogs took on the powerhouse UConn, losing 86-47 to the Huskies.
The game’s popularity was due to star UConn player senior Paige Bueckers, this year’s projected top pick in the WNBA draft. Bueckers dominated the court, scoring 23 points overall. Butler’s leading scorer was senior Kilyn McGuff, with 13 points. But it was Bueckers and UConn’s stellar team of all-star athletes who brought attention to Hinkle in a way that Senior Olivia Wright was heartened to see.
“I’ve been a fan of women’s basketball for a really long time,” Wright said. “ Growing up, I watched a lot of it, so going to the game and seeing the atmosphere that I grew up with be a big deal in Indianapolis is really cool, especially at the school that you go to, where women’s sports aren’t shown as much as the men’s. It was a really cool experience.”
A big part of the recent buzz for women’s basketball comes from the rise of stars like Caitlin Clark, who took the sports world by storm with her record-breaking career at Iowa. After Clark signed with the Indiana Fever, Indianapolis embraced women’s basketball. Her arrival has sparked what Indianapolis locals are calling the “Caitlin Clark effect,” which means increased growth to downtown businesses. Clark is a frequent guest at Butler basketball games, which Wright said has been incredible to see as a fan.
“I’ve also spent a lot of time being a fan of Caitlin Clark, who played at Iowa, so it’s really cool to have her come and play in Indianapolis, not only to bring awareness to women’s sports and the WNBA, but to support Butler athletics as well,” Wright said. “She’s brought attention to a school that’s a little bit smaller and also women’s sports in the area as well.”
Although Butler lost last weekend, Hinkle definitely experienced a win for women’s basketball. Tune in to the Bulldogs’ final game of the season on Wednesday, February 26, at Villanova.
