Caitlin Clark may be just starting her professional career with the Indiana Fever, but she’s already become an invested figure in the state’s wider sports scene.
On Wednesday night, as the Indiana Pacers stunned the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Clark couldn’t help but share her excitement with fans on social media.
The Pacers rallied from a late deficit to force overtime, eventually defeating the Knicks 138-135 in one of the most electrifying NBA postseason finishes of the year.
Tyrese Haliburton dropped 31 points and 11 assists, and Aaron Nesmith erupted with 30 points, including eight three-pointers on nine attempts. Their clutch performance helped Indiana erase what appeared to be a sure Knicks victory, stunning the Madison Square Garden crowd.
Clark, watching the madness unfold, posted a simple but emphatic message to X (formerly Twitter) that quickly went viral: “PACERS ARE THE GREATEST COMEBACK TEAM IVE EVER SEEN.”
Her post mirrored the sentiments of Pacers fans everywhere, who witnessed their team claw back in the final minute of regulation.
After a go-ahead jumper from Haliburton seemed to win it, officials ruled his foot was on the line-sending the game to overtime instead of sealing a win in regulation.
Undeterred, the Pacers regrouped and sealed the win in the extra period, seizing a 1-0 series lead on the road.
For Clark, the moment wasn’t just about a game. It was another example of her quickly becoming a cultural staple in Indiana, bridging professional basketball’s men’s and women’s sides in a state that reveres the sport.
Clark’s influence extends beyond the court as Pacers fever grows
Since being drafted No. 1 overall by the Indiana Fever last April, Caitlin Clark has brought new energy and attention to women’s basketball across the country-but especially in Indiana.
Her connection with fans has been immediate, and her engagement with the Pacers‘ playoff run is just the latest chapter in her rapid integration into the state’s sports identity.
Wednesday night’s game featured a standout duel between Haliburton and Knicks star Jalen Brunson, who led all scorers with 43 points. Karl-Anthony Towns added 35 for New York, but it wasn’t enough to hold off the Pacers, who shot 51 percent from the field and hit 15 of 37 attempts from beyond the arc.
The win was particularly poignant as it came just hours after the death of Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, who posted a final message of support for the Pacers earlier in the day. That emotional layer added to an already unforgettable evening for Indiana sports fans.
With Game 2 scheduled for Friday night back at Madison Square Garden, the Pacers carry momentum and belief-qualities that Clark, through her own rise, understands well.
Her viral reaction to the win underscores just how tightly the state’s athletes are rallying around one another, creating a unified energy that could drive Indiana teams deep into their respective seasons.
As Clark continues her rookie WNBA campaign and the Pacers push toward a potential NBA Finals berth, one thing is certain: basketball is booming in Indiana, and its stars-on and off the court-are rising together.
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