Tyrese Maxey may be one of the NBA’s biggest names right now, but even he had a clear fanboy moment when he crossed paths with Caitlin Clark.
After the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Indiana Pacers 114-109 on the road, Maxey got to meet the former Iowa star and current Indiana Fever standout for the first time. He said the moment was “really cool,” and admitted he was trying not to “fan out” while talking to her.
Maxey also made it plain that he follows Clark’s game closely. He called her “cold,” a quick line that said plenty about how much respect he has for what she does on the floor.
That reaction fits the kind of season Clark has put together. She wrapped up 2026 with career highs in points at 22.3, field goal percentage at 44.6, and three-point percentage at 36.1.
She also earned her second All-WNBA First-Team selection in three seasons and was in the MVP conversation for much of the year. Even with the Fever falling short of a championship, she still added more records to her name and stayed one of the most visible athletes anywhere.
Clark’s profile stretches well beyond the WNBA, too. She is a regular presence at Indiana Pacers games, and Tyrese Haliburton and other Pacers players often show up at Fever games as well. Since entering the league in 2024, Clark has helped drive the WNBA’s surge in popularity, and moments like this only reinforce how far her reach has gone.
For Maxey, the surprise was simple: he was starstruck. And for Clark, it was just another reminder that her game is commanding attention from the biggest names in basketball.
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