Social Media Erupts In Heated Debate On Whether One NBA Team Should Use Their Upcoming 2nd Round Pick To Draft Caitlin Clark

The Indiana Pacers are very likely to be without Tyrese Haliburton next season, and some are calling for the team to draft Caitlin Clark this Thursday.

Haliburton suffered a torn Achilles in Game 7 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night and has since undergone surgery. The Pacers guard will likely be out for the next year, which would rule him out for the entire 2025/26 NBA season.

Clark, on the other hand, plays for the Indiana Fever and has been selling out arenas since being drafted by the team last year.

With the second round of the NBA Draft set for tonight following Wednesday’s first round, Eric Sollenberger, better known as PFT Commenter, has thrown out a “dumb” idea, suggesting that the Pacers could draft the WNBA superstar as a replacement for the stricken Haliburton.

Check him out in the video below:

One fan pointed out that, “If Bronny can get drafted to sell tix for sure Caitlin can.”

“Herb Simon owns Fever and Pacers. He’s already selling out the Fieldhouse when Caitlin plays for the Fever,” a fan wrote.

“Lol first time somebody sets a screen on her, she’s out for the year,” someone else predicted.

“Not entirely unheard of because it has happened before. Back in 1977 Lusia Harris was drafted by the Jazz in the 7th round. Yes 7th round. Two picks later Bruce Jenner was drafter by the Kansas City Kings. Yes that Bruce Jenner,” someone else noted.

Caitlin Clark Would Not Be The First Woman Drafted By An NBA Team If The Pacers Somehow Decide To Pick Her

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images)
The last comment highlighted above is spot on. The Jazz, then in New Orleans, drafted Luisa Harris in 1977 after her impressive career at Delta State, though she didn’t get to try out because she was pregnant.

The Kansas City Kings also drafted Jenner that same year, but it was more for show after he (that’s what he identified as back then) won gold in the 1976 Olympic Games. He never suited up for the team.

The San Francisco Warriors also tried drafting Denise Long in 1969; however, the NBA voided the selection as they didn’t allow women to be drafted then.

It does beg the question: Can an NBA team draft a woman under current rules?

Technically, it can happen. The league only considers age and education when determining eligibility, not gender. Teams can also draft an active WNBA player, as there’s nothing stating that they can’t select a professional athlete from another league.

So while the door is open and has been for some time, no woman has ever played in the NBA.