The basketball world is buzzing, and not just because of the NBA Finals. The Indiana Pacers are turning heads with their stunning performance in the 2025 NBA Finals.
On June 11, the Pacers secured a thrilling Game 3 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, 116-107, to take a 2-1 series lead. Tyrese Haliburton once again showcased why he’s the face of Indiana basketball, delivering a near triple-double with 22 points, nine rebounds and 11 assists.
But while Haliburton is lighting it up on the NBA’s biggest stage, he recently made headlines off the court with his brutally honest take on Indiana’s WNBA team, the Fever, and how drastically things have changed since Caitlin Clark arrived.
Tyrese Haliburton Revisits the Caitlin Clark–Less Indiana Fever Era
In a candid interview with ESPN, Haliburton reflected on the Fever’s situation before Clark’s arrival, painting a bleak picture of the pre-Clark era.
According to the 25-year-old, attendance was sparse, the energy inside the arena was flat, and the Fever were largely depending on standout guard Kelsey Mitchell to carry the load.
“They wouldn’t even bring out half the bleachers. I could just go up there after my workout and sit courtside. Kelsey [Mitchell] was kind of keeping the team together at the time. Then they got Aaliyah [Boston]. Now we’re excited, and then we got the No. 1 pick, Caitlin, and now the energy is crazy,” Haliburton said.
Haliburton spoke facts. If we rewind the clock, Mitchell had been the face of the franchise since being selected No. 2 overall in the 2018 WNBA Draft. Despite her individual brilliance, the Fever struggled as a team.
From 2018 to 2023, Indiana consistently found itself at the bottom of the standings. They failed to win more than 10 games in a season for the majority of the stretch, with 2019 and 2023 showing minor progress at 13 wins. The team was stuck in a cycle of rebuilding with little to show for it.
Then came Clark in 2024, and everything changed. With Clark running the floor, Indiana finished the 2024 season at 20-20, not only breaking its losing streak but also earning a playoff appearance.
Her very first WNBA game, a matchup against the Connecticut Sun, averaged 2.1 million viewers on ESPN2 and became the league’s most-watched game in two decades. The Caitlin Clark effect was felt instantly, both on and off the court.
2.11 million peopled tuned to ESPN2 for Caitlin Clark’s rookie debut! pic.twitter.com/1z0a87tLTH
— Women’s Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) May 15, 2024
Clark’s presence didn’t just uplift the team, it elevated her teammates, especially Mitchell. Mitchell, who averaged 18.2 points in 2023, saw her scoring rise to 19.2 points per game in 2024 alongside Clark.
However, this season, the Fever are once again feeling the weight of Clark’s absence. Currently sidelined with a left quadriceps strain, Clark has missed several games, and Indiana has struggled, managing only two wins without her.
Before her injury, Clark was averaging an impressive 19.0 points, 9.3 assists and six rebounds, clearly establishing herself as the team’s engine on both ends of the floor. Now, Haliburton’s comments serve as a reminder of just how far the Fever have come in such a short time.
