Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever did not have the 2026 WNBA season they were hoping for. After finishing the regular season with a 28-16 record, the Fever earned the No. 6 seed in the playoffs. But their postseason run didn’t last long, falling to A’ja Wilson and the No. 3 seed Las Vegas Aces 2-1 after a 94-83 Game 3 loss.
Still, Clark continued to shine during her third WNBA season, while bringing in big audiences for the league as well. The former Iowa Hawkeyes star averaged a career-high 22.3 points on 44.6% shooting, 4.0 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game. And while her scoring production decreased by just over two points per game in the postseason, her passing improved to 9.7 assists.
Clark was coming off a 2025 season where she only played in 13 games before being ruled out for the season with numerous injuries. But the Fever point guard wasn’t the only basketball player in Indiana who dealt with injuries last season.
Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Tyrese Haliburton has become a star for the Indiana Pacers since joining the team in 2020. The former Iowa State point guard helped the Pacers to Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals before tearing his right Achilles. Haliburton was forced to miss the entire 2025-26 NBA season due to the injury, but is ready to make his return in the Pacers’ 2026-27 season opener on Wednesday against the New Orleans Pelicans.
And before the game, Haliburton and the Pacers celebrated his comeback with a social media post, revealing a message from Haliburton’s mom, Brenda, as well.
“Hey Tyrese, it’s mom,” Brenda Haliburton said. “I just wanted to say I am so proud of you. You have worked so hard, and you’ve never stopped believing in yourself. And through it all, you never quit. And now, you’re back. No matter what happens out there, nothing changes how much I love you. And not just me, but everyone. This is what you’ve been working for. It’s time, Tyrese. Let’s go.”
Brenda wasn’t the only one showing support for Haliburton ahead of his return. Clark even got into the action, commenting, “Ready. Let’s go Ty❤️❤️❤️❤️.” And the Fever had a message for the Pacers star as well: “welcome back @tyresehaliburton 😏🙌.”
Haliburton and the Pacers will take on the Pelicans on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET before returning to Indianapolis on Friday to host the Dallas Mavericks.
