FRESH OFF HITTING a momentous shot against the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals at Madison Square Garden, Tyrese Haliburton`s phone was buzzing with congratulations. However, he faced a small problem: he`d left his charger in Indiana and was about to miss out on connecting.
During the intense postseason, few people could easily reach Haliburton by phone, much less get a prompt reply. Yet, there`s one group chat that remains constantly lively, and Haliburton wasn`t going to miss the conversation there.
The active participants in this chat are Haliburton, his long-term girlfriend Jade Jones, Indiana Fever star guard Caitlin Clark, and her boyfriend, Connor McCaffery.
“We`re talking 24/7,” Haliburton shared.
The leading player for the Pacers, currently two wins away from a championship after a 116-107 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, and the premier player for the Fever, also the WNBA`s brightest young talent, share a strong friendship.
Their connection goes beyond attending games and exchanging social media messages. Indiana`s current basketball king and queen go on double dates with their partners and frequently discuss basketball and the demands of their high-profile status.
“The four of us spend a lot of time together,” Haliburton stated. “She faces immense pressure, as you know. There`s significant attention on me too, but the scrutiny on her is amplified a million times over.”
Back at Madison Square Garden, everyone was eager to speak with Haliburton after his crushing shot at the top of the key bounced in to force overtime. He then paid tribute to Pacers legend Reggie Miller by mimicking Miller`s famous “choke” gesture towards the Knicks crowd.
Meanwhile, Clark was in Atlanta. In her hotel room, she was so excited by her friend`s shot and the Pacers` overtime victory that she recorded her enthusiastic reaction to the game-winner.
“I have a video on my phone that I`m never going to show anyone publicly,” Clark told reporters the next day. “I recorded myself during the final play, and my real-time reaction is in it. It`s a truly iconic video. Maybe one day everyone will see it, but definitely not right now.”
Haliburton, however, *has* seen the video. Naturally, she sent it to the group text immediately.
“She was going absolutely wild!” Haliburton recounted.
“I swear way too much in it,” Clark explained, clarifying why she wouldn`t share the video publicly. She added that she has recorded herself watching nearly all of Haliburton`s game-winning shots this season, saving them for the future or potentially a project. The only one she missed was the shot he hit to beat the Thunder in Game 1 of the Finals with just 0.3 seconds left.
“I was on FaceTime with teammates Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull for the whole game,” Clark said. “But at the very end, I told them, `I have to hang up, I need to watch this. I can`t concentrate on both.`”
She thought about recording her reaction to the final play. “But then I thought, `Nah, no way. A fourth time in a row?`” Clark explained. “So I didn`t pull out my phone for the OKC game, but I was definitely going crazy jumping on the couch.”
A few hours later, Haliburton shared Clark`s congratulatory post from X (formerly Twitter) in their group chat. “I just wrote, `Nice shot, Ty`,” Clark recalled. “How many different ways can you say `Good job`?”
This highlights how one of basketball`s most impactful friendships flourishes in Indianapolis, where two young stars inspire and challenge each other as they climb towards the sport`s pinnacle.
“Ty and I would both tell you we hope to spend our entire careers here,” Clark stated. “People sometimes say it`s a small market, but that`s exactly what makes it special. For these fans, this means everything. We hadn`t hosted an NBA Finals game in 25 years, and I`ve never witnessed such excitement. People are lining up three hours before tip-off. I literally just got goosebumps thinking about it. The support for the Fever is equally passionate. As [Pacers coach] Rick Carlisle put it, `In 49 other states it`s basketball, but here, it`s truly unique.` I feel incredibly fortunate to play here, and I know Ty feels the same way.”
THE EVENING FOLLOWING Haliburton`s dramatic shot at the Garden, Clark reached out via the group text once more, this time to discuss a different topic.
The Fever secured a victory in Atlanta, but notably, for the first time since her sophomore year of college, Clark didn`t make a single 3-pointer. The opposing team, the Dream, had deployed an aggressive defensive strategy, essentially daring other players to score. They pressured her full-court, face-guarded her closely, and used blitzes to get the ball out of her hands early and wear her down. This approach proved effective.
“Clearly, we both want the ball in transition,” Clark commented. “That`s where we truly excel, especially in the pick-and-roll. It becomes challenging when defenses apply full-court pressure and deny the ball for the entire 94 feet. So, I was asking him, `How do I get open? How do you handle situations where you don`t necessarily have to be the primary ball handler on every possession? How do you find a balance?` This is something I`m still figuring out. It`s only my second year, while he`s in his fifth or sixth. He`s experienced this before. That`s how we share thoughts and strategies.”
Haliburton offered advice but admitted it was an ongoing challenge for him as well. The Thunder have been aggressive in limiting his drives by pressuring him high on the court and forcing him away from his preferred paths to the basket. In Game 2 of the Finals, he drove just nine times, resulting in only two points on those plays – his least efficient performance on drives in any playoff game, according to GeniusIQ data. He explained that the counter-strategy involves being more aggressive when the defense blitzes or hedges, looking to score rather than passing the ball away too early, as it`s unlikely to come back against the Thunder`s defense.
At Game 3 on Wednesday, Clark was courtside, ready to reinforce their conversation. “I was yelling at him the whole game, `Shoot it! Shoot it! You`re open!`” she shared. “I admire his unselfishness; it`s a key reason they`re so effective as a team. But honestly, he has the ability to score on every possession.”
Clark`s attendance was noticed by everyone present, not only for her star power but also for the perceived good luck she brings to the Pacers during the postseason. Indiana holds an 8-0 record in playoff home games that Clark has attended.
“Believe me,” Haliburton chuckled regarding the “Clark effect,” “I`m well aware of it. And if by some chance I wasn`t, everyone around would certainly make sure I knew.”
Their friendship began quite simply a few years back.
Clark`s boyfriend, Connor McCaffery, worked as a player development intern for the Pacers. He had previously competed against Haliburton in college (Haliburton at Iowa State, McCaffery at Iowa), and their friendship developed further after McCaffery joined the Pacers organization.
“Connor and I would often talk about Caitlin`s journey,” Haliburton recalled. “But I initially refused to root for Caitlin until she finished college because, frankly, I`m not cheering for Iowa.”
Jones, being from Iowa herself, became a massive fan of Clark as she set collegiate records. Eventually, Haliburton decided to switch his allegiance. The four of them had dinner together and have remained close friends ever since.
Haliburton had been attending Fever games since being traded to Indiana in February 2022. The team struggled significantly that season (finishing 5-31), and the atmosphere was vastly different from the energetic crowds seen now.
“They didn`t even set up half the bleachers,” Haliburton mentioned. “I could just walk over after my workout and sit courtside. Kelsey Mitchell was essentially holding the team together then. Then they drafted Aliyah Boston, which brought excitement. Getting the No. 1 pick, Caitlin, has just made the energy insane now. But I`ve been coming to the games since I arrived. I truly love basketball, especially the women`s game.”
However, following Clark`s arrival in Indiana, Haliburton couldn`t simply show up at a Fever game anymore. He actually needed to purchase season tickets, as those coveted courtside seats were suddenly in extremely high demand. The Fever`s average home attendance soared from just over 4,000 per game in 2023 to more than 17,000 per game in 2024.
Haliburton noted that he has always followed women`s basketball. His father, John, coached a middle school girls team, which helped him develop a deep respect for the sport.
“He truly loves the game,” Clark affirmed. “Even before I arrived, he was a fan of the Fever. He runs a girls` AAU basketball program. He`s a genuine champion for the sport.”
Even before Clark joined the team, Haliburton would text Kelly Krauskopf, who serves as the Fever president and assistant general manager for the Pacers, offering his thoughts on college women`s players who might be good fits for the team.
“Ty knew all the players,” Krauskopf shared. “Before the WNBA draft, he`d ask me, `Kelly, what are your thoughts on this player? Or that one? Do you think she`ll still be available?` He was clearly watching college women`s basketball closely.”
This commitment reminded Krauskopf of an Indiana basketball icon: Larry Bird. As the Pacers` president of basketball operations when the Fever reached the 2009 WNBA Finals, Bird watched almost every single game.
“Larry would always tell me, `I`m here if you ever need anything,`” Krauskopf recounted. She took him up on that offer the night before Game 3 of the conference finals against the Detroit Shock.
“Do you remember who coached that team?” Krauskopf prompted. “Bill Laimbeer. So naturally, Bird was motivated to absolutely dominate that guy.” Bird then contacted Pacers CEO Rick Fuson and arranged to purchase all the unsold upper-bowl seats to give away the next morning. Krauskopf also asked Bird if he would speak to the team before the game.
“He delivered a truly inspirational speech that morning,” she said. “It`s not really suitable for repetition, but it was very personal, and the team absolutely felt its impact.”
THIS LEVEL OF CONNECTION has characterized the relationship between the two franchises since the Fever`s launch in 2000. The organizations share resources and personnel. Owner Herb Simon holds the distinction of being the longest-tenured owner in both the NBA and WNBA, and he is the last remaining dual owner from the group who founded the initial 16 franchises between 1997 and 2000.
However, the specific bond between Haliburton and Clark is quite unique. They learn from and challenge each other. Given that they play the same position and their teams employ similar playing styles, they frequently navigate similar challenges.
“Our desired playing style is very similar to the Pacers`,” Fever coach Stephanie White explained. “We aim to play quickly and possess excellent depth, allowing us to utilize our bench effectively. We want to apply full-court pressure. While we might not build a large lead in the first three quarters, our depth ideally helps us pull ahead in the fourth. With Tyrese, opponents constantly try to neutralize him. His skill at involving teammates early is a valuable lesson for Caitlin. For the most part, she`s been able to play her way because she`s a generational talent. But top teams will always try to limit her primary strengths.”
Haliburton`s recent focus has been on maintaining his aggressive approach, regardless of how defenses scheme against him. He mentioned trying to learn from Clark`s example, observing how she continues to attack despite the significant defensive attention she receives.
Clark, conversely, studies Haliburton to improve her ball handling and decision-making. Haliburton led the NBA this season with an impressive 5.6 assist-to-turnover ratio, while Clark led the WNBA in turnovers last season, even though she broke the franchise`s single-season assist record.
“He`ll text me after a game where I`ve had 10 turnovers and say something like, `Nice triple-double,`” Clark joked.
This playfully illustrates how they push and support each other simultaneously.
“I tease her about it,” Haliburton admitted. “But she`ll continue to play her game and keep developing. More often than not, she makes the correct play. Basketball is a genderless language. We both simply share a love for the game.”
Reported by Ramona Shelburne with additional reporting by Michelle Steele.
