How Tyrese Haliburton & Caitlin Clark Lean on Each Other Through Injuries

Two of Indiana’s brightest stars, Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton and Fever guard Caitlin Clark, have both been forced to deal with major setbacks this year.

Haliburton tore his achilles during Game 7 of the NBA Finals, while Clark has battled lingering groin and ankle injuries throughout her first WNBA season.

Despite the frustration, the two have leaned on each other through the grind of rehab and recovery. Their friendship has grown stronger as they navigate the challenges together.

“It’s been important just to have someone to lean on, talk to,” Haliburton said, via WISH-TV News. “I think we’ve grown the relationship that we can talk about more than just basketball. Obviously we connect a lot through basketball, we get guarded the same sometimes, our defensive issues are similar, everything is really similar between us.”

tyrese on his friendship with caitlin

“it’s been important just to have someone to lean on talk to…even in our recovery we lift at the same time so it’s just us two in the weight room. so we spend a lot of time together…but I wish that she was playing.” pic.twitter.com/DuBSYKZK7r

— correlation (@nosyone4) August 23, 2025

Haliburton admitted that watching the Indiana Fever star remain on the sidelines has been difficult.

“It sucks that she’s been hurt as long as she has,” he continued. “Just for us to be able to communicate, even in our recovery we lift at the same time, so it’s just us two in the weight room. We spend a lot of time together. I guess it’s a good thing, but I wish that she was playing. I think it’s just good to have each other to lean on at a time like right now.”

Haliburton is expected to miss the entire 2025–26 NBA season as he recovers from his achilles tear, while Clark is hoping to return before the WNBA postseason, managing an ankle concurrently with the right groin injury.

Clark also suffered a bone bruise on her left ankle during a workout earlier this month, according to ESPN. On July 24, the Fever said Clark had no timetable for her return.