It was a star-studded affair at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Monday as Caitlin Clark, Tyrese Haliburton, and Jade Jones made headlines — not for what they did on the court, but for what they did courtside. And what did they do? They cheered, they smiled, and they brought an aura of celebrity that could make any basketball coach rethink their career choices (or fashion sense).
Caitlin Clark, fresh off an explosive WNBA rookie season (because apparently, she doesn’t know how to not be great), was there supporting her boyfriend, Connor McCaffery — now an assistant coach for Butler, and, let’s be honest, the luckiest guy on the planet. You’d think having Caitlin Clark as your partner would be enough, but no, Connor’s also got deep basketball genes — his dad is Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Fran McCaffery, while his mom played for Notre Dame. Yeah, this guy hit the genetic and relationship jackpot.
Joining Caitlin on this courtside adventure were Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton and his girlfriend, Jade Jones. Haliburton, who apparently needed a break from his “just casually dropping 35 points and 14 assists” lifestyle, took a rare day off since the Pacers didn’t have a game on Monday. The trio’s courtside vibes clearly worked magic because Butler smacked Western Michigan, 85-65, with Connor’s younger brother Patrick McCaffery doing the heavy lifting on the floor, scoring 15 points. Safe to say, this family doesn’t know what an off day looks like.
The entire scene was like a mini basketball summit — Haliburton, who’s quickly becoming Indiana’s favorite basketball son, brought some extra star power to the already electric environment. Jade Jones? Let’s just say she looked equally thrilled to be enjoying what might’ve been one of the easiest games she’s attended all season.
Meanwhile, Caitlin Clark, in her WNBA offseason, has been making Indiana her second home. She’s practically everywhere — whether it’s sitting courtside at Butler games or watching the Pacers dismantle the Knicks just a day prior. And let’s be honest, her being there might’ve been the secret sauce behind Haliburton’s season-high stats that night — 35 points and 14 assists on an absurd 61.1% shooting. Clearly, Caitlin Clark is a good-luck charm, because how else do you explain this man looking like he’s playing NBA 2K on rookie difficulty?
Back at Butler, the trio of Clark, Haliburton, and Jones seemed to have brought Butler all the luck they needed. Sure, it was only their second win of the season to move to 2-1, but maybe we should start talking about the real game plan here — getting these three to more games. Butler’s got some work to do, but who knows, if Caitlin and company keep showing up, they might just go undefeated from here on out.
In other news, Caitlin Clark, as if she wasn’t already Indiana’s unofficial new mayor, also lent a helping hand at Haliburton’s “Come To Our House” charity event at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Let’s just say she’s not only dropping dimes on the court but also serving food with the precision of her 3-point shooting. What’s next for her? Probably curing world hunger with a step-back jumper.
So, here’s the takeaway: Indiana is now the epicenter of the basketball universe, and if you’re not keeping tabs on the latest Caitlin Clark sighting or Haliburton highlight reel, you’re missing out. Also, Butler — if you’re listening — maybe just start reserving a seat for Caitlin every game. It’s clearly working.
