“I don’t know what I’m going to do tomorrow, I don’t know what I’m going to the next day.” That’s how Caitlin Clark had responded when she faced questions about her off-season activities. And she was right, as the reigning ROTY has embraced her downtime, focusing on relaxation and spending time with loved ones. Whether she’s cheering for her boyfriend or enjoying a golf outing with her teammates, Clark is making the most of her break. However, her latest appearance was right at home base, which surfaced on social media through a touching fan encounter.

A recent Instagram post from an Indianapolis resident grabbed attention, featuring Caitlin Clark beaming as she stood in the middle, sharing a side hug with the woman, probably poster’s partner. Clark’s boyfriend, Connor McCaffery, and the poster stood on either side, completing the group snapshot. The post’s screenshot was later shared by a fan account on X as well with a caption, “this is so cute omg.”

As the fan’s post caption clearly captured his excitement meeting the rising star in the WNBA, his caption also revealed he got himself lucky with that opportunity while attending the Golden Gala event for the Indiana Pacers Foundation. The organizers scheduled the inaugural Golden Gala event for October 19th and it was held at Commission Row, adjacent to Gainbridge Fieldhouse. That means Clark was not far away from the home arena where she dazzled in her rookie year.

Moreover, the fan also revealed that he gave his daughter’s hand-drawn picture of Clark to the 22-year-old. “One thing I wish we captured on camera is Amber handing Caitlin a hand drawn picture Skylar has drawn for her. Caitlin took it and smiled and enjoyed it, but I feel genuinely awful we didn’t capture this moment for Skylar to have forever. If there is any way at all we can get that moment, somehow, some way then I’m all for it.”

It’s worth mentioning that recent rumors suggested Caitlin Clark might leave the WNBA for overseas commitments. However, if that were the case, why would she still be staying in Indiana during the off-season and attending Pacers events? Not only are the Pacers where her partner McCaffery previously worked on the staff, but the franchise is also the NBA counterpart to Clark’s team, the Indiana Fever.

In fact, she has also attended Pacer games in the recent past, also with her ‘backcourt homie’, Kelsey Mitchel, by her side. The Golden Gala event, however, might have given Clark another chance to bond with a Pacers star who’s been close to both her and her boyfriend.

Caitlin Clark meets her Indiana buddy: Tyrese Haliburton

The same Instagram carousel that featured Caitlin Clark and McCaffery also included photos of other well-known figures, which included Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton. With the NBA season just days away, Haliburton was likely enjoying some downtime before the demanding schedule kicked in. After all, the event was designed to give Pacers and Fever stars a chance to relax and spend time together.

What’s even more intriguing is the close-knit connection between Tyrese Haliburton and the couple—Caitlin Clark and Connor McCaffery—who appeared earlier in the post. This season, Haliburton and his girlfriend, Jade Jones, often sat courtside at many Indiana Fever home games. Haliburton frequently sat near McCaffery, Clark’s boyfriend, who now serves as an assistant coach at Butler and previously worked for the Pacers.

“I’ve grown to be pretty close with Caitlin and (Connor). Me, her, him and my girlfriend, Jade, all have a group chat that we talk in pretty often about everything. So it’s been cool to just grow my friendship with her,” the Pacers guard told IndyStar earlier. These two are definitely on the rise as Haliburton, a 2x NBA All-Star, shined on the international stage, earning a Gold medal at the Paris Olympics. Meanwhile, Clark has ignited a renewed interest in the WNBA, leading the Fever back to the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

Now, as one Indiana star, Caitlin Clark, takes her time off to enjoy her life after a record-breaking season, it would be interesting to see how the NBA season unfolds for her friend, Tyrese Haliburton. The Pacer’s first game is set to be played against the Detroit Pistons on coming Wednesday!