For many young families filing into TD Garden, Tuesday night felt like Christmas in July... as budding basketball fans finally got to enjoy their gift. "I'm going to go see Caitlin Clark!" a young girl exclaimed.

Clark declined doing the 3-point contest at WNBA All-Star in Phoenix last summer, citing rest and mental health after what was a hectic rookie season. She had never shot off a rack, she said, and didn’t have time to practice ahead of the 2024 All-Star break.

WNBA fans were left in disbelief after Caitlin Clark seemed to get triggered in a conversation with an official and had to be held back from furiously charging at her.

This season’s Wings-Fever matchups have drawn plenty of attention by bringing together two of the league’s bright young stars.

Rumors swirled Clark’s apprehension to shooting off a rack contributed to her not doing the 3-point contest at 2024 WNBA All-Star Weekend in Phoenix. But, she says, that was never the case. All along, she said, she was hoping to have her first 3-point contest in front of her home fans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Clark had another poor shooting night in her fourth game back from injury. But she closed the fourth quarter strong to put the Sun away in a close game.