A win for women’s sports: Dallas Wings vs. Indiana Fever brings a sold-out crowd to the AAC

DALLAS They spent big on tickets, booked flights and hotels, or made the drive for a weekend getaway in Texas.

And even with Caitlin Clark sidelined by injury, Friday night still felt like a win for everyone in the building.

I look up to them," said Ryleigh Daniels of Alexandria, Louisiana.

"I want to be them one day.

She was wearing Caitlin Clarks Indiana Fever jersey, but had a hard time choosing between that and her Paige Bueckers Dallas Wings gear.

Daniels is a young athlete, growing up in a remarkable time for womens basketball.

I hope to be here one day, I really do, she said, talking about her dream of being in the WNBA.

The promise of a matchup between the two most recent number one picks in the WNBA draft, who have a combined 5.1 million social media followers, drove ticket prices sky high.

Caitlins injury did cause prices to fall by an estimated 40% in the hours leading up to tip-off, but a sell-out crowd of more than 20,000 still showed up at the Dallas Wings first game inside the American Airlines Center.

Check out photos from the night below: 1/16 Giovanni Garcia 2/16 Giovanni Garcia Clark's left groin injury spoiled what was supposed to be the first meeting of the past two No.

1 picks in the WNBA draft.

3/16 Giovanni Garcia Mavs' Kyrie Irving sits courtside at Wings vs Fever matchup at the AAC.

4/16 Giovanni Garcia 5/16 Giovanni Garcia 6/16 Giovanni Garcia 7/16 Giovanni Garcia Dallas Cowboys' Micah Parsons and NBA player Cade Cunningham sit courtside at the Wings vs Fever game.

8/16 Giovanni Garcia 9/16 Giovanni Garcia Mark Cuban sits courtside at the Wings vs Fever game.

10/16 Giovanni Garcia 11/16 Giovanni Garcia 12/16 Giovanni Garcia 13/16 Giovanni Garcia 14/16 Giovanni Garcia 15/16 Giovanni Garcia 16/16 Giovanni Garcia In that crowd were Aliyah Quill and her mother Pam Quill, who traveled all the way from Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, about 30 minutes outside of Philadelphia.

Aliyah was always ambivalent about sports -- she remembers trying her hand at softball in the fifth grade and hated it -- but in her final two years of college, Paige and Caitlin caught her attention.

Aliyah just graduated from Carnegie Mellons School of Music.

She was the valedictorian of the school and has plans to become an opera singer.

The game and the entire trip to Texas are her college graduation gift from her mom, a huge sports fan herself.

Never expressed any interest in sports, Pam said of her daughter.

When she started to love basketball, Im like, this is freaking awesome! So, yes, were going to Texas to see this game, for sure! Aliyah cant quite put her finger on what it is about Paige and Caitlin that captivated her and converted her.

Their talent is a huge part of it.

But so is their character.

How they carry themselves off the court.

Very kind, so much compassion.

Theyre inspirational people, she said.

Longtime fans say theyre just grateful to see the sport they love grow.

I grew up a WNBA fan.

Like 20 years now.

When I see all this growth, Im crying.

Caitlins a huge part, but its also all the women who came before, said Malorie Dyer of Austin.

Theres room for them all -- lifelong fans, new fans, and young fans with a lifetime ahead.

I think this is a new thing thats going to last a long time, Aliyah said..

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