Although the Indiana Pacers haven't had the best season, given their 10-15 record, one of their biggest fans had quite the Tuesday. Indiana Fever superstar and friend of All-NBA point guard Tyrese Haliburton, Caitlin Clark, received a significant honor from a highly respected publication.
The longtime publication announced that Clark earned Time's Athlete of the Year honor.
In her rookie year, at 22, Clark took the WNBA by storm. Despite a hoard of doubters regarding her NCAA talents translating to the WNBA, the Fever star proved such skeptics wrong. Clark led the Fever to their first playoff berth since 2016.
In addition to her team's success, Clark won the WNBA Rookie of the Year award, earned All-Star and First-Team All-WNBA honors, and, most impressively, finished fourth in MVP voting.
However, as impressive as her on-court production is, her long-term effects on the WNBA's financial situation were evident in the multiple games teams required to move larger arenas to compensate for the league's higher-than-usual demand. Moreover, the Sports Business Journal reported that all the Fever games performed 199 percent better than other matchups.
Clark-led games saw a 1.19 million viewership.
Related: Could Pacers Turn To Trade With Nets For Help In Frontcourt?
The Pacers supported Clark and their sister franchise, the Fever, throughout their season. Myles Turner, Obi Toppin, and Haliburton attended multiple games during the Fever's successful campaign.
Clark and Haliburton are mutual friends through her boyfriend, Connor McCaffery. McCaffery worked as the Pacers' basketball development coordinator for the 2023-24 season and is currently an assistant coach for the Butler University basketball team.
Regardless of how Clark and Haliburton befriended each other, the support for each other's teams is apparent.
Related: What Grade Did Pacers Get to Start the Season?
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This story was originally published December 10, 2024, 8:40 PM.