The Indiana Fever scored a franchise record 113 points in regulation and outscored the Toronto Tempo by 19 points in the second half en route to a 113-91 win — their sixth in a row at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

It was an offensive showcase on Tuesday evening, at least after a sluggish start due to turnovers and missed shots at the rim. However, the Fever scored at least 26 points in all four quarters and had three players finish with at least 21 points.

It takes a lot for Kelsey Mitchell to score a game-high 27 points on an efficient 9-of-11 shooting and for Caitlin Clark to finish with 21 points and 14 assists — and then for neither one to be the focal point postgame.

That’s right, this game will be remembered for Cunningham lighting it up from distance.

Cunningham sank a buzzer-beating 3 to close the first quarter and then erupted for a season-best 24 points on 6-of-7 shooting from range, which also matched her career-high.

She had been reliably scoring in double figures for the first month of the season, but then there appeared to be fewer opportunities and she wasn’t scoring in double figures.

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Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark has been named Eastern Conference Player of the week for her play last week. A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces was the recipient in the Western Conference.

Clark averaged 25.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game while helping the Fever to a perfect week — 3-0 — with wins over Washington, Chicago, and Connecticut.

The Fever (8-5) have climbed to seventh in the league standings. The Minnesota Lynx, at 11-3, remain at the top.

A byproduct of the team’s success is Clark being honored for her individual performances. She continues to look sharper on the court — in her movements and her play. As Clark goes, so too does much of the Fever's success

And now the Fever are at home for five of their next six games, only having to leave Indianapolis once for the rest of June. That will come this weekend when the Fever make the quick trip down to Atlanta to complete a home-and-home in a featured matinee on ABC. (It’s also head coach Stephanie White’s birthday on Saturday.)

First up, though, the Fever welcome the second expansion franchise this season, the Toronto Tempo, to Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Tuesday.

Clark discussed the award before facing the Tempo:

I think it’s just an award of how we’re playing right now I think obviously stringing three together and they were all pretty close. I wouldn’t be able to do what I do if it wasn’t for my teammates so it’s just as much theirs as it is mine.

I think the exciting part is we have so much room to continue to improve. I know there’s a lot of discussion around, we’ve blown these leads and we haven’t really found ways to find a blowout win.

One, this league is really hard. And two, okay, well, I guess we’re winning close games, because down the stretch, that’s gonna be really, really important. So good thing we’re getting the practice now and hopefully that’s something we can take in late in the season when you really need those wins late and into the playoffs.

This is the fourth time Clark has been named conference Player of the Week. Hall of Famer Tamika Catchings, who will be the analyst on Tuesday’s broadcast airing on USA Sports, leads the franchise as an 11-time recipient.

Tuesday's game also marks a notable checkpoint for Clark. It will be her 13th appearance of the season, matching the total number of games she played last season as injuries interrupted her year."

The Pacers aren’t in the NBA Finals this year, so Indiana fans may be looking for a rooting interest as the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks battle for the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

Regardless of which side they choose, there are plenty of Pacers connections throughout the series.

From former Pacers coaches and front-office staffers to former Mad Ants staffers, familiar faces can be found on both sides. Some played key roles in Indiana, others worked behind the scenes, and a few simply have strong ties to the franchise or the state.

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The Indiana Fever continue to be the biggest television draw in women’s basketball.

The Fever-Liberty matchup on June 6 averaged 2.557 million viewers on CBS, making it the most-watched WNBA game on any network this season, according to Nielsen data released by CBS Sports.

The national broadcast also peaked at 3.022 million viewers.

CBS said the audience was up 33% compared to the same network window last season, when Indiana played Chicago on June 7, 2025.

The viewership milestone is significant beyond just this season. According to CBS Sports, the Fever’s visit to New York ranks as the second most-watched WNBA game on any network since 2000, including playoff games.

Since drafting Caitlin Clark with the No. 1 pick in 2024, the Fever have become one of the biggest draws in sports. The impact was immediate: The 2024 WNBA Draft drew roughly five times the audience of the previous year’s broadcast despite little suspense about who would be selected first overall.

That interest has carried into the regular season. And it’s now reflected in all 44 regular-season Fever games this season picked up by national networks — a first in league history.

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The Liberty won the 2024 WNBA Championship and are headlined by Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and Jonquel Jones. However, Ionescu did not play; she’s missed all but one game this season due to injury.

The Fever led by as many as 12 points, but were outscored 29-18 in the fourth quarter of a 83-75 loss. The Liberty attempted 40 free throws, including 23 in the final period, to the Fever’s 15 attempts. Stewart, alone, finished 18 of 21 at the line and led all scorers with 30 points.

It also had additional meaning because it was a Commissioner’s Cup game.

Television numbers have become a recurring storyline for the Fever since the 2024 season, regularly delivering an audience larger than one million — and helping drive league-wide visibility and sponsor interest.

The Fever are the it team. Since the 2025 season, they’ve leaned into sizable following with the slogan: “Every game is a home game.”

The latest audience figure underscores the Fever’s role as the league’s primary ratings engine. More than halfway through the season, no other WNBA game has attracted a larger television audience than Indiana’s nationally televised showdown with New York.

The last week has been a lot — filled with emotions ranging from frustration and disbelief to gratitude for being healthy and working in sports for a living. The Fever’s decision was a direct shot at me, someone who does the work, shows up every day, and asks questions — and it directly impacts my livelihood.

I've received so many kind notes from subscribers, friends, media colleagues, and even people in the industry I hadn't previously known.

One of them was Ros Gold-Onwude, the former Stanford standout and current broadcaster. She put it well.

Former Pacer Evan Turner also spoke up, along with many others.

Honestly, I wasn't sure what to write next … so I just started writing. With that said, there's plenty happening on the court as well, so let's get you caught up.

For the Pacers, the draft is now just two weeks away.

Even without a pick, they still have plenty of work to do. That’s part of the process. It’s why they have a scouting department, and you never know when a player they’ve graded highly could become available at the right time.

The Pacers could trade back into the draft, and they also have Summer League and G League rosters to build.

That’s one reason they’re continuing to hold pre-draft workouts. They hosted several last week, including one featuring three local products. I wrote recently about Lawrence North graduate CJ Gunn, his development, and his desire to play professionally. Could that opportunity come in his hometown with the Noblesville Boom?

(Click here for my annual list of workout attendees, and is updated regularly before draft night.)

Meanwhile, the Fever (5-5) conclude a two-game road swing tonight at 7 p.m. ET against the Washington Mystics. Because renovations are ongoing at Capital One Arena, the game will be played at CareFirst Arena, a 4,200-seat venue the Mystics call home — except when they typically host the Fever.

The game will air on Peacock, NBC Sports Network, and locally on WTHR.

Last Thursday, the Fever earned a much-needed win after two straight losses and a wave of negativity. But after a strong start Saturday in New York, they faded late in a loss to the Liberty.

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CJ Gunn didn’t have to travel far for a job interview on Wednesday.

The Lawrence North High School graduate made the short drive downtown to the Ascension St. Vincent Center for a pre-draft workout with his hometown team, the Indiana Pacers.

Following the NBA Draft Combine, which was held May 10-17 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, teams across the league host players for on-court workouts — which also serve as in-person interviews — leading up to the two-night draft, June 23-24, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Gunn officially declared for the draft on April 26 — betting on God’s plan and trusting the work.

“I think it’s a testament to how I was raised, just growing up and the thought process and the motivation that my pops instilled in me at a young age,” Gunn said in a phone interview on Tuesday.

His first move then was to go to Canada, where he spent a few weeks playing for the Calgary Surge in the Canadian Elite Basketball League. He wanted to get in that environment and go against pros, including guys who have played in the NBA G League.

“The Surge wanted me to come out there and kind of get some bump in with them and see the landscape of the pro world,” Gunn said.

So he did that and enjoyed the experience. Now he’s looking forward to the next step — showing NBA teams what he’s about during these visits.

“A guy that’s deeply rooted in his faith, a guy that is extremely confident,” Gunn said of his message to teams. “A great guy to have with positional size. A guy that loves the defensive end, brings the energy every day, ready to work hard and earn his minutes.”

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Gunn has been at home, training at the Mojo Up Sports Complex in Noblesville, which is just down the street from Riverview Health Arena at Innovation Mile, the new home of the Noblesville Boom. That’s the G League affiliate of the Pacers.

“That’s not too far from the house at all, so that feels like home,” Gunn said.

“I’m an Indy kid. I just love Indy. I love what the city gives. I love the love that the city shows me. So I just feel like this is a perfect situation.”

As part of the pre-draft process, teams also use these workouts to identify players for Summer League and G League opportunities. That’s especially the case this year since the Pacers do not have a selection in the 2026 NBA Draft.

A 6-foot-7 wing, who plays both ends of the court well, is what every team covets.

Gunn graduated from Lawrence North High School — which has also produced NBA players like Mike Conley and Greg Oden — as the all-time leader in scoring average. His team reached the Class 4A state finals in 2021, losing to Carmel 51-46. Gunn finished with a team-high 18 points and four rebounds.

After high school, he attended Indiana University. He originally committed to Archie Miller, then stayed patient and reaffirmed his commitment after Mike Woodson was named head coach. After two seasons in Bloomington (2022-24), he transferred to DePaul University for the past two seasons (2024-26).

“The journey has definitely tested me,” he said. “Starting off in high school, playing JV and wanting those varsity minutes, wanting to dress and not having that opportunity. Transferring schools, getting used to different environments and different coaching staffs, fighting through adversity and injuries throughout high school, throughout college. And just finding a way to make my mark.

“First in college and kind of wanting to rush the process and rush the success — and being in a position to where I have to be confident in myself, be confident in the work I put in, and ready to step up to the to the moment when it presents itself.”

At DePaul, he started in 44 of 64 games. He raised his shooting percentage (39.9% last season), got to the free-throw line more often and tried to get the most out of his final seasons in college.

Through it all, Gunn said he’s had a strong support system that starts at home with his parents, Christopher and Linda. Those two never missed a college game.

“Regardless of where I’ve been, where I played, they made it their top priority to come see me every time they could,” he said.

Gunn’s sister, Lauren, is two-and-a-half-years older and also played college basketball. But first, like many siblings in Indiana, they enjoyed fun, intense battles on the basketball court.

“Growing up, she was always bigger than me,” he said. “And so me, my dad and my sister, would ride our bikes down to the elementary school. It was right down the street and our dad would always have us play one-on-one. And man, those are the most physical battles up to that point in my life.

“My sister has helped me grow my mindset to what it is to the day since a kid. She played she was a college basketball player so she was definitely my biggest competition growing up.”

It’s those competitive battles and desire for more that’s fueled him ahead of a pro career. Gunn said his memories of following the Pacers go way back.

He remembers former Pacers guard George Hill, who attended the same middle school, coming back to visit. He’s a player Gunn idolized.

So it’s no surprise that Hill was a starter on the Pacers team Gunn enjoyed most.

“My favorite all-time memory and time period would have to be when the Pacers and the Heat were going at it,” he said, getting excited. “Back in like 2012, 2013, around that era. As a kid growing up in that whole rivalry and series, that was one to remember for sure.”

Throughout this transition from college and pros, Gunn has been fortunate to lean on another local product: 2012 Indiana Mr. Basketball Gary Harris.

The Hamilton Southeastern High School grad was selected 19th overall in the 2014 NBA Draft, and part of a trade that moved him from Chicago to Denver to start his career. He’s played on three NBA teams, including the Milwaukee Bucks this past season.

“Our families are real close-knit so he’s like my cousin,” said Gunn. “I go over to his house every weekend to work with him.

“After we get done working out and be able to sit down, have conversations about him or what coaches are looking for this whole process, his mindset when he was in it. And just him being a vet and being able to be in that moment and to pick his mind and to be a sponge. He’s definitely given me a lot of a lot of advice.”

That all led to a memorable Wednesday: his first pre-draft workout, and it came with his hometown team. (The Pacers did not announce this workout.)

“I kind of have the same emotions as my first pro game when I went out to Canada — ready to step into that moment and be present,” Gunn said. “I’ve dreamed about this time since I was a kid so once I finally settle into my emotions, I’ll trust in my work, trust in my work ethic and bring the energy.

“I want everybody in that gym to feel me and feel how passionate I am about this game.”

Where Gunn’s professional career begins remains unknown.

But the opportunities continue to come. Later this month, he’ll represent USA Basketball the FIBA 3x3 U23 Nations League Americas Conference held in Maipú, Chile after a successful first experience in the spring.

Fieldhouse Files with Scott Agness is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support independent journalism, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

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Indiana Fever public relations informed me via email that my credentialed access to all team events had been revoked. They said it was due to “the spread of inaccurate and unsubstantiated information” and cited my tweet about Caitlin Clark being ruled out 100 minutes before they defeated the Portland Fire on May 20.

Fever PR briefly spoke with me before the game to ask about the tweet and state that they believed it was false. However, there was no meeting or further conversation before the decision to revoke my credentialed access was communicated to me.

In my response, I told the organization that I stand by my reporting and the intent behind it.

Because many of you subscribe to Fieldhouse Files specifically for Fever coverage, I believe it’s important to be transparent about what happened.

The reporting in question was not behind a paywall. It was available to anyone who wanted to read it. It was based on information from a trusted league source. The story provided additional details and was updated before tip-off to include head coach Stephanie White’s pregame comments.

Here’s a portion of that story.

Clark was visible at practice on Tuesday, but White said Clark did not participate. “She got treatment yesterday and went through workouts after practice,” she said.

I reported earlier that there is no new injury or concern. White confirmed that.

“She’s healthy,” said White, adding, “we’re not managing anything. This is just a back issue that we want to make sure we give the time to be ready.”

I also wrote that it was “part of a strategic management plan” for Clark, who missed all but 13 games last season due to several injuries. That was not to insinuate load management, but rather emphasize the precautionary measure given what she experienced last season.

This is Indiana’s fourth game in eight days, with another one coming on Friday against the Golden State Valkyries.

Clark is playing almost 31 minutes per game and is one of several players to wear a black heating pad around her back when not in the game. There’s a lot of stress on one’s body when ramping back up to a full workload, and she hadn’t played significant minutes since last July.

This is how beat reporting works. Report the news, gather additional context, speak with sources, and update readers as new information becomes available.

Given the intense attention surrounding the Fever and Clark — who went from not appearing on the injury report to being ruled out — I believed it was important to provide context rather than allow speculation and misinformation to fill the void.

Here was Clark on her back and health from May 26:

I don’t think it necessarily started at a certain point. I think it’s just been over the course of the last year when I’ve been understanding my body more.

… I think it’s just finding the balance of when I maybe don’t need to be as aware and when I’m maybe a little too over aware. So still working through that, but I don’t think it’s anything of concern.

The Fever took specific issue with the phrase “strategic management plan.” That’s their right. However, it is consistent with what the team has been publicly emphasizing since last season — keeping the big picture in mind and taking a cautious approach.

The next day, the Fever received a warning from the WNBA regarding their injury reporting procedures, according to a league source. And for the three games since, Clark has been listed on the injury report: back — probable.

Here was Clark before the next game, on May 22:

These are the best players in the world and if I don’t feel a hundred percent confident in my body, like on game five of the year, I don’t know if that’s really worth it in that scenario.

I want to play every single game. I want to play 44 games in a season. I’m doing everything I can to do that. I’m putting my body in my best position I can to — and I feel really good and really confident in my body, but there’s moments where I still struggle a little bit and I get in my head and things like that and I’m sore. That’s just the reality of it.

This reflects what the reporting attempted to explain from the beginning: a team and player balancing short-term availability with long-term health.

People can disagree with wording or interpretation; that's part of the relationship between teams and the media. What should not be in dispute is that the reporting was sourced, that it was updated as new information became available, and that readers were given the full context available at the time.

This situation also comes against the backdrop of my relationship with the Pacers. Before the start of the 2023-24 season, my access to the team inexplicably shifted overnight — after being the only one to cover every training camp practice — from daily access to weekends only.

Then, following NBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis, those restrictions increased to no access and I was taken off the email distribution list because I parked in the media lot “without the appropriate passes or clearance.”

That’s just not true.

When I arrived, I was welcomed in by the regular attendant and shown where to park before I covered the Indy Host Committee’s first-of-its-kind opening ceremony. I even left him my number in case he needed me to move my car.

I’ve met twice with a Pacers executive for coffee in an attempt to gain understanding, clarity and a path forward. I followed the guidance to communicate through PR and work to build a relationship, but those efforts have not led to a response. Notably, I had no issues until there was a change in the PR department.

I do not have a clear explanation, but I believe that they do not appreciate my existing personal and professional relationships that I’ve built from being at The Fieldhouse for more than 20 years.

One concern raised involved me catching up with a member of the support staff several hours before Game 1 of the NBA Finals. When I was informed that I needed to leave the court area, I did so immediately.

Another involved having a conversation with a longtime member of building security in the corner where the team enters the floor. It was several hours before the game, no players or coaches were present, and the area was not restricted to team personnel; fans walk on one side of the tunnel at games.

That was the only direct interaction I had with Pacers PR while covering all seven games of the 2025 NBA Finals.

However, that has now affected my standing with NBA PR as well. I would have been the only Indianapolis media member in Los Angeles last February to cover Pascal Siakam’s fourth All-Star appearance, but that credential request was declined for the first time. The same thing happened last month for the NBA Draft Lottery, despite my radio partner, 107.5 The Fan (the flagship station of the team), wanting to include my coverage in its Monday morning program.

And for the last few years at NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, I was told I was not welcome to cover Pacers practice between games (while another reporter did). Then, they only made one player available postgame despite being required to make two.

I cannot definitively say whether those Pacers circumstances influenced the Fever’s decision. What I can say is that this latest action follows a pattern that has made it increasingly difficult for an independent journalist to provide the type of on-the-ground coverage that readers deserve.

Yet I have continued doing the work.

I was the only Indy reporter at owner Herb Simon’s Hall of Fame induction in 2024, the only one in Paris in 2025 for Pacers vs. Spurs in the Global Games, and the only basketball reporter in the country to cover Clark playing in The ANNIKA Pro-Am each of the last two years. All while being independent.

I attended every Fever training camp practice this season, every home game, and every playoff game over the last several years (and the Commissioner’s Cup final). I write almost daily, produce regular videos and podcasts, and I'm a frequent guest on radio stations across the country.

I also invested in additional coverage for fans three years ago by hiring a photographer for select games.

I’m the longest-tenured writer currently covering the Pacers or Fever. My work received more than 7.3 million views in the last 12 months — and I have Substack subscribers across 49 states and 83 countries.

There is far more to covering a team than what happens during games. There are offseason developments, community initiatives, sponsorships, media rights, alumni stories, league issues and the countless conversations that help explain what fans are actually seeing. All of which I cover extensively.

I’ve covered the Fever since 2013, back when the league was trying to gain traction. Here’s what media day looked like back in 2015, before they reached the WNBA Finals in October. (And here’s my postgame video report from their Game 1 win.)

The WNBA has never been bigger. Interest in the Fever has never been greater. At a time when rumors, outrage and conspiracy theories often dominate social media, I believe beat reporting has never been more important.

Journalists should not be the story. Our role is to cover it.

In this case, however, I felt you deserved transparency about what happened and why. I do not take this decision lightly and I'm disappointed by it, particularly because the reporting at issue was sourced, contextualized and updated as additional information became available.

Colleagues in the media have been urging me to go public about these issues with the Pacers from the beginning. I held off because I hoped they could be resolved privately and, until May 20, I had a good relationship with the Fever. Given recent events, I believe readers deserve the full context.

This is my livelihood. I remain committed to covering the Fever, the Pacers and professional basketball in Indiana with the same standards I always have. However, without credentialed access, some aspects of coverage — including player interviews, community events and other on-location reporting — will be more limited due to these team-imposed restrictions.

Even so, I will continue doing the work, telling unique stories and providing the context and coverage that readers have come to expect from Fieldhouse Files.

Thank you for your support, your readership and your trust.

Connor McCaffery has been hired by the Noblesville Boom as a player development assistant, league sources told Fieldhouse Files.

The Boom are the NBA G League affiliate of the Indiana Pacers.

McCaffery spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach at Butler under Thad…

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Tully Bevilaqua has seen it all in the WNBA. As the league celebrates its 30th season, the Australian guard has been part of nearly all of it.

She’s most known for her time with the Indiana Fever, both as a player and now as a member of the coaching staff.

She’s also done extensive broadcasting work for the team and served as a player development assistant from 2017-20.

Bevilaqua is now full-time with the franchise, serving as an advanced scout and video coordinator. She’s active in the team’s game preparations and sits behind the bench, in the second row, at most games.

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What a difference one year makes.

At this time last year, the Pacers were battling the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals before clinching the series at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in six games to reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000.

Now, the organization is preparing for the upcoming NBA Draft without rights to any of the 60 selections.

Back then, it was a balancing act for the front office. While supporting and enjoying the team’s Finals run, executives also had to prepare for the annual NBA Draft. During that stretch, the Pacers made a fortuitous trade with the New Orleans Pelicans, acquiring their own 2026 first-round pick in exchange for their 2025 1st.

With their attention split — and ahead of what many expect to be a strong 2026 draft class — the Pacers positioned themselves more favorably for the future.

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Gainbridge Fieldhouse already has a regular-season college basketball game on the schedule for the upcoming season.

Indiana and Syracuse men’s basketball teams will play on Monday, Nov. 9.

The matchup was previously reported, but it is now official. Tipoff time will be determined by television schedules. The event is being hosted by Complete Sports Management.

IU narrowly beat the Orange 74-73 in the 1987 NCAA Championship game. Keith Smart sank the game-winning basket — a jumper from the left short corner — with four seconds left. The game was played at the Louisiana Superdome.

These two programs last met in the 2013 Sweet Sixteen, with Syracuse winning 61-50.

The Indiana Fever are enjoying a rare break in their schedule.

After playing five games in 10 days, they now have a five-day break between games. That included a rare weekend off, which allowed for Caitlin Clark to experience the Indianapolis 500 for the first time. And in an official capacity.

It’s something sports fans in Indy have wanted to see since Clark was selected No. 1 overall by the Fever two years ago.

Finally, a break in the WNBA schedule made this crossover possible.

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Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard of the Indiana Pacers had the honor of representing both the team and the city on Saturday.

Although the Pacers endured a quiet and uneventful spring — something they don’t want to get used to — the two starters were invited to serve as Grand Marshals for the 500 Festival Parade, held annually one day before the Indianapolis 500.

“I’m super excited. Should be fun. My first time, and hopefully my last,” Siakam said before the start, smiling.

“I wanna be in the playoffs. I wanna be playing.”

The 2025-26 Pacers season did not go the way anyone hoped. The team finished with just 19 wins after enduring an unsustainable number of injuries throughout the season, beginning with All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton missing the entire year because of the torn Achilles tendon he suffered in Game 7 of the NBA Finals last June.

That was 11 months ago.

The Indianapolis 500 is one of the premier sporting events each year. It’s easily the marquee race in the IndyCar Series, and annually more than 330,000 fans fill the 2.5-mile oval just west of downtown Indianapolis for what should be considered a bucket-list event for any sports fan.

Before race day, though, comes the 500 Festival Parade — a community celebration honoring the spirit and legacy of the Indy 500.

“This is really the culmination of the month of May for the 500 Festival,” said Dave Neff, president and CEO of the 500 Festival. “Our last major event before we roll into the 110th running of the Indy 500.

“Thankfully, the weather is cooperating. We’re gonna have a beautiful day out here — not too hot, no rain. We’ve got an Artemis II astronaut, Jeremy Hansen, who’ll be in the parade, which is really special.

“We’ve got 13 marching bands, 32 of the 33 drivers; Katherine Legge is doing the double. The U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps. We just have so many amazing groups and a couple hundred thousand of our closest friends. There’s nothing like May in Indy.”

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The parade began just before noon Saturday and lasted several hours. It included the governor of Indiana, the mayor of Indianapolis, celebrities and community groups from across the state.

The parade route stretched 1.5 miles, beginning at Pennsylvania and North streets, then looping west on Washington Street and finishing at Meridian and North streets.

“I’m excited to try to ingrain myself in the culture,” Nembhard said. “I’ve been here for four years and haven’t gotten the chance to come to the 500. I want to see what it’s all about.”

“I’m super excited to see everyone,” added Siakam. “I don’t know what to expect, to be honest.”

Siakam also had his personal photographer there to capture the experience — including one entertaining interaction before the parade began.

After arriving downtown, Siakam was stopped by a parking attendant asking for $10 for event parking.

“I’m the Grand Marshal of the Parade,” he said. “I don’t get to park for free?”

“You’re not the Grand Marshal — Caitlin Clark is,” the attendant replied. “It’s Caitlin Clark. I know for a fact. … You think you’re going to fool the old lady?”

She then did a quick Google search and realized that Siakam was, in fact, one of the Grand Marshals for the parade.

Clark later responded to Siakam’s Instagram post about the exchange: “Hahahah this is great.”

The two Pacers players were ninth in the parade lineup. New this year, they rode atop a 500 Festival float rather than sitting in the back of a Chevrolet Corvette pace car.

“The Grand Marshal is a bit of a formality in terms of its title and its role,” Neff said. “You think back over the last 50 years, we’ve had a president. Gerald Ford was Grand Marshal at one point (1979). Icons like Larry Bird, Peyton Manning, Walter Cronkite. Some really significant names and leaders that have held the formal title of Grand Marshal.

“It signals, ‘Hey, this is somebody that, through their body of work, has demonstrated leadership in whatever sphere they’re in.’”

Former Pacer Scot Pollard served as Grand Marshal in 2025, while Hall of Famer Tamika Catchings was honored in 2024. Other notable basketball honorees include the Indiana Fever championship team in 2013 and Reggie Miller in 2005.

“We thought, ‘This is the only year where they’re not gonna be in the playoffs, so we might as well pounce,’” Neff continued. “Then it was great to see our friends at IMS have Caitlin Clark being the Grand Marshal tomorrow for race day.

“I think it unites the sports ecosystem in Indy, so it’s a great partnership.”

Nembhard felt that connection as well. Whether it’s the Colts, Pacers, Fever or IMS, all of the Indianapolis sports teams are so supportive of one another.

“Yeah, it’s cool,” Nembhard said. “Going around the (Pacers) facility, I’m talking to people that have grown up here and it’s like a childhood memory.

“It’s a big thing for everybody in the city. So I just want to kind of engulf myself in it and enjoy myself.”

Siakam is a racing fan — and a sports fan in general. He has attended Formula 1 races before, but not the Indianapolis 500. Until Sunday.

“I don’t got a pick,” he said beforehand. “I’m still looking at my drivers, man. I’m evaluating.”

Nembhard, meanwhile, picked Christian Lundgaard.

“I haven’t gotten to learn too much about the race yet, but I got the opportunity to go into the pit with the McLaren team,” he said. “It was nice to see how much strategy goes into a sport like this. That’s hard to tell from the outside.”

Pacers fans had hoped for a Game 7 victory last June, followed by a championship parade through downtown Indianapolis to celebrate the franchise’s first NBA title. That will have to wait for another day.

Still, fans stayed with the team throughout the difficult season, supporting them through tough moments and already looking ahead to next season.

This moment for Siakam and Nembhard felt like another opportunity for fans to show their appreciation and thank the players for the success they all enjoyed during the past two postseasons.

“I think the fans here are always super supportive and they just love to see us play hard and give it our all,” Nembhard said, smiling. “So I think they’re gonna be excited about next year.”

For one afternoon, Siakam and Nembhard got to experience one of Indianapolis’ most cherished traditions from the center of it all. Next May, however, they hope to be watching from afar — still busy chasing a championship with the Pacers.

Good afternoon and welcome back to Fieldhouse Files. After a Fever-heavy few days, I’m returning to the classic notebook format today.

In Indianapolis, there’s no better weekend than race weekend.

I’m writing this from the media center at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where preparations are complete for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday. Despite concerns about rain throughout the weekend, drivers were able to complete the final two-hour practice session on Friday.

A number of celebrities will be part of the festivities on Sunday.

Jordin Sparks will sing the national anthem, Caitlin Clark will serve as Grand Marshal and give the command for drivers to start their engines, and IU football coach Curt Cignetti will drive the Chevrolet pace car.

The grandstands and official parking have already sold out, and the local blackout on FOX59 has been lifted. We’re ready to go for another race.

One of the more entertaining additions to Carb Day returned Friday afternoon: the Wienie 500.

For the second straight year, Oscar Mayer brought six 27-foot-long Wienermobiles to the track for a novelty race that has quickly become a fan favorite. Each vehicle had its own identity — including Chi Dog, New York Dog, and Corn Dog — and the crowd loved every minute of it.

Even big FOX aired it live and leaned fully into the absurdity of it all. Using the same announcers from the Indianapolis 500 broadcast made the race even better, with the commentary crew delivering nonstop jokes and energy throughout.

Oscar Mayer deserves a lot of credit too. The marketing campaign around the race has been brilliant. Everywhere you looked Friday, fans were dressed as hot dogs or carrying hot dog memorabilia.

They were all-in on the puns.

New York Dog took the checkered flag and boos came down from the stands. That dog was not a fan favorite.

Coming up on Saturday, Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard of the Pacers will serve as Grand Marshals for the 500 Festival Parade. The Pacemates are also involved.

Former Pacer Scot Pollard served as Grand Marshal last year, while Tamika Catchings held the role in 2024.

The parade begins at noon ET from downtown Indianapolis.

Also of note:

Fever Fill Open Roster Spot

The Fever signed 6-foot-3 forward Grace VanSlooten — a third-round 2026 pick of the Seattle Storm. She fills the roster spot that was created after they waived guard Shatori Walker-Kimbrough on Thursday.

The move gives Indiana additional size in the frontcourt, something the roster needed.

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The Indiana Fever waived Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, the team announced Thursday afternoon.

She signed a training camp contract with the Fever on April 16, and then was on a one-year, non-guaranteed deal.

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The Indiana Fever did not provide the Portland Fire a warm welcome-back-to-the-league experience.

The Fire, one of two expansion teams, were in Indiana on Wednesday for their first road game of the season after opening with a four-game homestand. The Fever led 28-20 after the first quarter, outscored Portland in each of the first three quarters, and never trailed in a 90-73 win.

Indiana got it done easily, even without Caitlin Clark — the face of the WNBA.

She was a late scratch, added to the injury report with a “back” designation less than two hours before tipoff. Head coach Stephanie White then shared pregame that Clark did not participate in Tuesday’s practice. Media is allowed in for a brief portion at the beginning of practice and she was around. (Here’s my practice report from Tuesday.)

White said the All-Star guard received treatment and then completed a workout. They had two days between games.

“Not everybody that doesn’t practice or gets a pro day is on the injury report, so that happens all the time,” White said postgame. “She wasn’t listed on the injury report earlier because we expected her to play.”

Better communication and transparency from all teams through the league’s daily injury reporting would benefit both fans and the media.

Coincidentally, WNBA PR sent an email at 3:34 p.m. ET on Wednesday alerting media to a new game-status reporting system, which includes injury reports every 15 minutes on game days.

OK … back to basketball.

All-Star center Aliyah Boston returned after missing the first game of her career on Sunday — ending a streak of 275 consecutive appearances dating back to high school. She led all players with 24 points and eight rebounds, making 8 of 11 shots, including 2 of 4 from beyond the arc.

“It felt pretty good,” Boston said. “I think for me, just continuing to manage that and be ready every single night I step on the floor.”

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One memorable sequence came when Boston knocked down a 3-pointer, then followed it up with a layup on the next possession after sealing deep in the paint. That pushed the Fever lead to 26, their largest of the game. Portland had no answer for her.

“She shot with confidence, she played with confidence,” White said. “Her physicality was really good. I thought her balance was really good. And she did exactly what we need her to do.

“She takes control of the offense when we need her to, breaking the press when we need her to. But I thought overall just her conviction in everything she did was really good. I was so happy that she wasn’t hesitating shooting the basketball.”

White said before the season that she wanted Boston to shoot more 3-pointers, and this was a successful example of that. Boston can also relieve pressure on the guards when opponents press full court or trap the ball-handler.

The Fever (3-2) assisted on 75% of their field goals (21 of 28), a high mark that typically leads to success.

“That’s the thing that we’ve just been continuing to work on — keeping the ball popping, getting it to the second side, making the right pass on time and on target — and we did a great job of that,” Boston said.

Seven of those assists — along with zero turnovers — came from Indy native Ty Harris, whose workload was managed during training camp as she returns from season-ending surgery on her left knee almost one year ago.

Harris spent two seasons with this coaching staff in Connecticut, so she knows exactly what they want. That allowed her to fit right in after starting in place of Clark.

“She’s steady,” White said. “So I felt good about her coming in and being able to handle the ball against the pressure and get us where we were supposed to get to.

“She had to play a lot of hard minutes against the press so I’m not surprised at her shooting percentage (0 for 6) because she’s a great shooter. But I thought she did exactly what we needed.”

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The Fever also shot better from range. Excluding guard Raven Johnson’s 1-for-8 night, the rest of the team combined to go 8 for 20 from deep.

And Lexie Hull, the glue of the team, beamed postgame when asked about her shooting. She went 4 for 4 from 3-point range and finished with 16 points and eight rebounds. She also took a charge — something she seems to do nightly.

“It feels good to see the ball go through the net,” Hull said with a big smile. “I think just getting more games under our belt, getting more comfortable, building that chemistry, knowing where those shots are coming from.

“I feel like that’s something we drill a lot in practice, and we got a lot of the shots that we wanted — a lot of shots that we walked through. So obviously it feels good. AB hitting two threes tonight, 2 for 4. We will take that every night.”

Boston, sitting to her left, chimed in:

“Girl, you were 4 for 4. You were 100% from the field.”

Hull laughed and replied:

“We’ll take 50%, we’ll take 100. It’s good by me.”

Hull, who played in every game last season, shot 36.7% from distance after shooting 47.1% in 2024. She remains one of the better outside shooters in the WNBA.

However, she was not a full participant in camp because of hamstring tightness. Now, she says she’s “good — back to normal.”

“She’s one of the toughest players I’ve ever been around,” White said in her second season coaching Hull. “She’s tough, she plays her butt off. She makes the right plays on the defensive end of the floor. She relishes doing those things that energize our team.

“… Everybody has their role, and Lexie’s the energizer bunny for us. Those plays give us energy.”

Kelsey Mitchell poured in 21 points and added four assists, and no one logged 30 minutes. Most starters played about 21 minutes, which is significant with Friday marking the team’s fifth game in 10 days.

Portland’s 73 points were the fewest Indiana has allowed through five games this season. The Fever now have their first winning streak of the year and are above .500 for the first time.

“It’s really starting to build continuity on both ends of the floor,” White said. “There are times where we are disjointed. So I do think it’s putting one foot in front of the other.

“Yes, we have some returning pieces. But a lot of those returning pieces are learning how to play together again. And we have a lot of new pieces trying to fine-tune what we’re gonna do and build connectivity on both ends of the floor.

“It doesn’t happen overnight. … And I’m pleased with our progression.”

After hosting Golden State on Friday, the Fever will enjoy five days between games before playing in San Francisco next Thursday to complete an early-season home-and-home.

Clark is expected back, and after Indy 500 fans enjoy Carb Day at the track, Friday’s game should make for a fun start to race weekend in Indianapolis.

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Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark will not play in Wednesday’s game against the Portland Fire, one of two expansion franchises for the 2026 season.

Her status was downgraded to out due to “back,” at 5:20 p.m. ET by the team.

Speaking with reporters about an hour later, head coach Stephanie White said that she learned of the determination around 5 p.m. after Clark “woke up with some stiffness and some soreness.

“… It’s not the time to take a chance. We just really wanna be cautious.”

That aligns with what the Fever have said. They have taken a cautious approach with player health, having the long-term in mind. We saw that in training camp with Ty Harris, Aliyah Boston and Lexie Hull, etc.

Clark was visible at practice on Tuesday, but White said Clark did not participate. “She got treatment yesterday and went through workouts after practice,” she said.

I reported earlier that there is no new injury or concern. White confirmed that.

“She’s healthy,” said White, adding, “we’re not managing anything. This is just a back issue that we want to make sure we give the time to be ready.”

I also wrote that it was “part of a strategic management plan” for Clark, who missed all but 13 games last season due to several injuries. That was not to insinuate load management, but rather emphasize the precautionary measure given what she experienced last season.

This is Indiana’s fourth game in eight days, with another one coming on Friday against the Golden State Valkyries.

Clark is playing almost 31 minutes per game and is one of several players to wear a black heating pad around her back when not in the game. There’s a lot of stress on one’s body when ramping back up to a full workload, and she hadn’t played significant minutes since last July.

Without Clark, point guard Ty Harris will start in her place.

“She’s experienced,” White said. “They’re a team that’s gonna press. I wanna have an experienced point guard on the floor when that happens.”

The game will tip off after 7 p.m. ET, available nationally on USA Sports. Kate Scott (play-by-play), Hall of Famer Tamika Catchings (analyst), and Paris Lawson (sideline) are on the call.

The Fever are 2-2 and coming off a home win on Sunday against the Seattle Storm. All-Star center Aliyah Boston, who missed the game, is off the injury report and discussed what she’s going through before practice on Tuesday.

The Fire are also 2-2. They’re beginning a three-game road trip in Indiana after a four-game homestand to open the season.

These two teams will meet again very soon, in Portland on May 30.

Clark ranks fifth in the WNBA in scoring, averaging 24.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 9.0 assists per game.

This story was updated before tipoff to reflect Stephanie White’s comments.

When Caitlin Clark established the Caitlin Clark Foundation, she did so with three core pillars in mind: education, nutrition, and sport.

Over the weekend, the WNBA star made a special announcement that directly impacts kids and the Indianapolis community.

Inside a brand-new Lilly corporate space — a building that had not even been open for a full week — Clark joined representatives from her foundation, Eli Lilly and Company, and Musco Lighting to celebrate the opening of three multi-sport community courts in Indianapolis.

“We started this project in Des Moines and built a few courts there,” Clark said. “And now I’m doing this in Indianapolis. These three courts here are pretty special.”

One of the new courts, located at E. South St. and S. New Jersey St. just south of downtown, is open to the public. Lilly provided the park and court as part of the company’s 150th anniversary celebration.

That’s where the announcement was originally scheduled, but the weather had other plans.

Along with the public court, two additional courts were built at Indianapolis Public Schools — Clarence Farrington and Edison School of the Arts — to support school programming.

“There’s multiple spaces that we’re donating back to the city of Indianapolis for free in hopes that, for generations to come, the community will come out, enjoy these spaces, families will come together, and kids will come out and play,” said Melissa Coe, Associate Vice President of Social Impact and Community Engagement at Lilly. “Health makes everything else possible, so we’re proud to have a small part in doing that for the city of Indianapolis.”

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Clark grew up playing nearly every sport imaginable, from basketball to soccer. She often played with her brothers. Her older brother, Blake, and her mother, Anne Nizzi-Clark, both serve on the foundation’s board and were present for the announcement.

“It’s very important to her,” said Mary Coffin, president of the Caitlin Clark Foundation. “Staying active, having a place to play, and to connect.

“She knows it’s a big part of building your confidence, meeting friends, being a part of the community, and they’re just great courts to do all of that. So she’s just very excited to see kids out playing on them. It’s just it’s very heartfelt to her to see the kids when they take the soccer balls and the basketballs and start playing on the court.”

Last July, before the school year began, the foundation distributed backpacks in Indy as part of its education pillar. The organization plans to do it again this summer.

“Some of my best memories as a kid are getting to go outside and play on these courts, make new friends, meet new people,” Clark said. “And I think it’s super important for our community, for these kids, to have these spaces that they can go to with their families.

“They can feel safe. They can have fun. They can be active. So really just special for the whole community and hopefully we can continue to do more amazing work like this. So just super thankful for everybody that’s here.”

When Clark was introduced to the crowd, about a dozen kids sat on the floor in front of the podium. Most wore Fever gear, while a few sported Clark jerseys.

“Are you guys excited?” she asked, smiling toward the children. “I love your Fever gear. It looks so good.

“This is a really special project that I get to be a part of. I tell people this all the time — one of my favorite things I get to do with my platform is help people like you and give back to the community.”

Downtown Indianapolis continues to thrive because of its sports teams and convention business. Major events seem to arrive every month, from the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament to the NCAA Men’s Final Four and WNBA All-Star Game.

That’s in addition to the city’s growing restaurant and entertainment scene. Clark, a global star, was invited to walk out with country music star Morgan Wallen one week ago at Lucas Oil Stadium.

“Now when families come downtown, they can expect not only world-class sporting events, world-class dining, and entertainment, but also access to nature and a space to put on a game of their own,” Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said. “This is especially important for our city’s young people — our future leaders and future generations. This new court is going to inspire generations of kids to play and dream big.”

“We’ve been fortunate to do Lucas Oil, Gainbridge Arena, the minor league stadium, great stuff,” said Jeff Rogers, CEO of Musco Lighting. “But what will be on our mantle will be these Caitlin Clark community courts. We think that’s a wonderful contribution to the city of Indianapolis.”

Whether it’s shooting hoops, kicking a soccer ball, or simply having a place to gather, this initiative clearly means a lot to Clark.

“I love that Caitlin uses her platform to help others,” Coe added. “And I love that the Caitlin Clark Foundation is focused on health above all and asks, ‘How can we help build healthier communities?’ That’s something Lilly believes in, too, so it’s a perfect fit.”

One month ago, the foundation announced a partnership with Scholastic Books. In November, Clark’s first book — aimed at inspiring kids — will be released.

It’s guaranteed to be a best-seller because it’s Clark — and she is The Needle.

That’s how you know this project is going to be successful too; everything in her orbit is.

“She always says, ‘Dream big,’” Coffin added. “She dreamed big, and she worked hard. She says, ‘I worked hard and I earned it.’

“But she’s really stood behind the idea that you can be a great athlete, but you also need the education and nutrition that support it — and then you have to get out and be active. It’s a very simple but very powerful message.”

As Clark’s influence continues to expand globally, projects like this show where much of her focus remains — close to the community. For the kids who will grow up playing on these courts, the impact could last far longer than any single game or season.

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Indiana sports fans and Indianapolis Motor Speedway alike are finally getting their wish.

Caitlin Clark will not only attend Sunday’s Indianapolis 500, but she will do so in an official capacity as Grand Marshal. It had been in the works for a while, but IMS made it official Tuesday morning.

“I’m honored to represent Gainbridge as grand marshal of the Indy 500,” Clark said in a statement. “I’m looking forward to experiencing an iconic piece of what makes Indiana so special and being part of the time-honored tradition of ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.’”

As Grand Marshal, she will step to the microphone atop the Victory Podium — in front of more than 330,000 fans at IMS and millions more watching on Fox — and deliver the ceremonial command to the 33 drivers:

“Drivers, to your cars!”

She is scheduled to appear at 12:33 p.m. ET following the national anthem, which will be performed by Jordin Sparks.

Last year’s Grand Marshals were former Major League Baseball stars Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez. In 2024, actor Dylan Sprouse served in the role.

Clark was asked about the opportunity this week. It’ll be her first time at the race.

“When you first move to Indianapolis, that’s what everybody that lives in the state of Indiana asks you or tells you — ‘You got to go to the Indy 500 or you have to experience it just once.’ So personally, I’m really excited. Hoping the rain holds off a little bit, but it should be a fun day.”

Clark expects some of her teammates to be there as well.

Once Clark is finished, Jim Cornelison will then sing “Back Home Again in Indiana!”

That’s followed by IMS Chairman Roger Penske giving the second command: “Drivers, start your engines!”

By 12:45 p.m. ET, the green flag will drop for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

It’s the world’s largest single-day sporting event.

Curt Cignetti, head coach of Indiana University’s undefeated national championship football team, will drive the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X pace car.

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Clark has partnered with Gainbridge since her senior year at the University of Iowa. With the company serving as presenting sponsor of the race, of course they’d like to integrate her in any capacity she is willing.

“Indianapolis is at the center of what we do at Gainbridge,” said President Derek Towriss. “We’ve been the presenting partner of the Indy 500 since 2019, and Caitlin has been part of the Gainbridge family since before she was playing home games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Having her as grand marshal pulls it all together.

“We invest in people and places we believe in for the long run. We do the same for our customers, helping people who work hard for their money put it to work for them. This is going to be a Race Day moment we’ll all remember.”

Gainbridge and parent company Group 1001 likes to put Clark in different sporting venues away from the basketball court. For the past two years, she has participated in The Annika Pro-Am in Belleair, Florida, and now she’ll be featured in front of one of the largest audiences in motorsports.

Clark knows a little something about speed and pushing the pace, too.

The scheduling simply hadn’t worked out during Clark’s first two seasons after being drafted No. 1 overall by the Indiana Fever in 2024.

This year, however, the Fever play at home Friday and then do not play again until the following Thursday. The team has already penciled in off days for this weekend.

That means Clark will be able to fully enjoy race day and experience the event firsthand. After her official duties conclude, she’ll likely take in the race from the Gainbridge suite at the top of Pagoda, offering one of the best views at IMS.

“Since being drafted by the Fever, fans have been clamoring to share the epic celebration and thrilling excitement of Indy 500 Race Day with Caitlin,” said Doug Boles, President of IndyCar and IMS.

“Caitlin will bring unique energy and presence to a quintessentially Hoosier experience and an absolutely bucket list global sporting spectacle.”

Indiana sports fans are getting a full Pacers & Racers & Fever weekend.

On Saturday, Pacers’ Andrew Nembhard and Pascal Siakam will serve as Grand Marshals for the annual 500 Festival Parade in downtown Indianapolis.

One year ago, several members of the Fever visited IMS for the first time and head coach Stephanie White waved the green flag during a practice session.

“I think it’s going to be a lot of fun,” White said of Clark’s opportunity. “To experience that, as the Grand Marshal, is one of the highest honors you can get in the state of Indiana.”

Clark, Indiana’s biggest sports star, has taken over basketball arenas nationwide. On Sunday, she’ll command the attention of the racing world, too.

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