The Indiana Pacers are rolling into Game 3 with all the momentum, riding high after stealing two road wins in Cleveland. The hero of the night? None other than Tyrese Haliburton, who drilled a cold-blooded game-winner that had every Pacers fan, including Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark, absolutely losing it.
Down by as much as 20 points, the Pacers showed serious grit and composure, clawing their way back into the game. Then came the dagger. With ice in his veins, Haliburton hit the game-winner that silenced the Cavs’ home crowd and sent Pacers Nation into a frenzy.
Caitlin Clark, known for her own deep-range heroics, couldn’t hold back her excitement. She reposted a clip of Haliburton’s shot on X, adding: “TY!!!!!!!! WHAT A WIN !!!!!!” The energy from that moment? Electric. It’s safe to say the Pacers will be greeted like rock stars when they return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse, with fans—Clark included—ready to bring the noise.
Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever match ESPN’s viewership record for preseason game
While Haliburton’s heroics lit up the NBA, Caitlin Clark is doing some serious damage in her own lane. The rookie phenom is already making waves in the WNBA, and she hasn’t even played a regular-season game yet.
In the Indiana Fever’s recent preseason matchup against the Brazilian National Team, ESPN drew an average of 1.3 million viewers—a massive number for a preseason game. According to ESPN VP of Research Flora Kelly, only two out of 57 WNBA games the network has aired since 2010 have matched that level of viewership. The kicker? Both featured LeBron James.
Whether or not those numbers hold throughout the season, one thing’s crystal clear: Caitlin Clark is already shifting the landscape of women’s basketball. Her presence is bringing in new fans, new eyes, and a level of hype the league hasn’t seen in a long time.
Between Haliburton’s clutch performance and Clark’s immediate impact, Indiana is buzzing with basketball energy. Two rising stars, two massive moments, and one city that’s quickly becoming the epicenter of hoops excitement.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
