Before Game 3 of this year’s NBA Finals, the last time Gainbridge Fieldhouse hosted a Finals game was in the building’s very first season. While NBA Finals appearances have been rare at the venue, it has experienced championship basketball more recently on the WNBA side. In 2015, the Indiana Fever reached the WNBA Finals but came up short against the Minnesota Lynx. 

This year, the Pacers brought championship energy back to the Fieldhouse with a strong performance, earning a 116 to 107 win in Game 3 to take a 2 to 1 lead in the best-of-seven series, giving Indiana fans plenty to celebrate. The fans have a busy and heart-stopping weekend ahead as both the Indiana Fever and the Indiana Pacers have home games scheduled within 24 hours of each other.

The NBA Finals series will stay in Indiana for Game 4, which is scheduled for Friday. Just the next day, the Caitlin Clark and Co. will also play a home game against the New York Liberty at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Due to the tight scheduling, all three teams—the Pacers, the Thunder, and the Fever—are currently holding practices either inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse or at the nearby St. Vincent Center, the training facility directly connected to the arena. This overlap, as reported by Tony East, highlights just how busy and energized the building is as it hosts both NBA Finals and WNBA regular-season action

The Indiana Fever are having a contrasting season to their NBA counterparts, who have reached the finals. A negative 4-5 record along with a distressing recent loss to the Atlanta Dream. They also have had Clark out for the last five games, with the running joke being that the Indiana Pacers sacrificed Clark to get to the finals. She has also been a lucky charm for the Pacers this year. 

She’s attended eight games as the Pacers have made a run to the championship series this year. And in all eight of those games? The Pacers have notched a victory. Clark will also likely be at their game on Saturday, giving the Pacers an edge in the finals.  The Fever star also has a budding friendship with the Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton.

“He’s, first of all, one of my good friends, but also like it’s nice being able to just talk basketball and understand each other, but also we keep it fun,” the Fever guard said in May of Haliburton. “It’s not anything deep, but it’s fun to talk about, too.”

The Pacers’ clutch man also had a similar vibe when talking about Clark. “Caitlin is amazing,” Haliburton recently reflected. “For me, getting to actually spend time around her, be around her, get to know her personally, she’s just an amazing person and amazing player.”

The two will also likely practice together since they are currently in the same building. If Clark is fit and good to go, then they could also go 1 vs 1, and the sophomore sensation will leave no stone unturned against the NBA finalist. In the past, Pascal Siakam has also expressed his admiration for her, calling her more popular than Indiana Haliburton or Clark, and he replied, “Caitlin is a, yeah, she’s a beast, man. And they love her. So, I’ll probably say Caitlin Clark. I love Tyrese, but she’s on another level in terms of just the love that she has.”

This weekend could bring similar levels of excitement and fan turnout for both the NBA Finals and the WNBA game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. With Caitlin Clark potentially returning to the court after her injury hiatus, there is added anticipation surrounding the Indiana Fever’s matchup against the New York Liberty. Many fans who attend or watch the Pacers’ high-stakes Finals game the day before may return to the arena for the WNBA showdown, creating a packed and energized atmosphere. Even with the quick turnaround, Clark’s presence is expected to draw a strong and enthusiastic crowd, eager to witness her comeback in one of the most anticipated regular-season games of the year.

As the Fever prepare for their home matchup, they will be hoping that some of the Pacers’ remarkable momentum carries over while they share the same building. The Pacers are currently experiencing one of the most unlikely and inspiring runs to the NBA Finals in recent memory, exceeding expectations and capturing the passion of Indiana basketball in the process.

What can the Indiana Fever learn from the Pacers’ Squad?

Suppose you had asked anyone before the 2024-25 NBA season who would make the finals. Very few will have the Indiana Pacers as the first name on their lips. The Indiana Fever, on the other hand, were favourites to have a deep playoff run for the 2025 season, but their 4-5 record has made the fans and analysts doubt their potential as a squad. 

The Fever remain on course for at least the playoffs, but the expectations have been set high by Caitlin Clark herself. She had just two words for the expectations for this season: “A Championship.” They could take a few pointers from the Pacers’ playbook, considering they could win the NBA title soon.

Indiana’s NBA squad thrives on ball movement, pace, and unselfish play. The Pacers are second in the league in assist-to-turnover ratio and are third in assists per game. They have emphasised a team-oriented style of basketball that is yet to materialize for the Fever. Clark and Co. are 9th in the league in assists per game with only 18.6. The Fever, with Clark’s elite passing and Boston’s versatility, are still well-positioned to adopt a similar identity, playing with tempo, purpose, and cohesion.

Just like the Pacers earlier in the season, the Indiana Fever are facing doubt from fans and critics alike. Questions about their ability to succeed this year have only grown with Caitlin Clark sidelined due to injury. However, much like their NBA counterparts, this team has a chance to change the narrative. To do that, they must find motivation from within, showing the same grit, resilience, and belief that fueled the Pacers’ unexpected journey to the NBA Finals.

While the Pacers are preparing for a high-stakes battle on basketball’s biggest stage, the Fever are gearing up for a significant regular-season test against the undefeated New York Liberty. Although the Pacers are under much more pressure, the challenge to rise above adversity is very much similar. This is the Fever’s moment to step up, embrace the pressure, and prove to themselves and others that they belong among the league’s toughest competitors.