Basketball community erupts as Caitlin Clark hits choke celebration during NBA Finals Game 3: "You can't have a bad game now"

Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark was in attendance for Game 3 of the 2025 NBA Finals on Wednesday. She busted out the choke celebration, with her photo going viral. Fans reacted to the gesture amid a close contest between the Pacers and the Thunder.

After Tyrese Haliburton hit a 3-point shot in the first quarter, Clark was caught using the iconic choke celebration made popular by Pacers legend Reggie Miller. Haliburton used it in the previous series after hitting a game-tying shot against the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.

Clark was courtside with Fever teammates Aliyah Boston and Natasha Howard to show their support for the Pacers. The team has a playoff record of 7-0 with Clark in attendance since last year's postseason.

Fans reacted to Caitlin Clark's gesture on social media, with the image going viral. Some thought that it could backfire, especially if the Indiana Pacers don't win Game 3. The image will now be used whenever the Fever let a game slip away or Clark has a poor game.

Here are some of the comments.

"You can't have a bad game now, Caitlin," one tweeted.

Ballgame.com

@ballgamecom

LINK

You can't have a bad game now, Caitlin.

Jake

@jakejensen1234

LINK

That ain’t gonna age well.

Nickelforward

@NickelForward

LINK

Okc fan and honestly she’s awesome. Thunder in 5 tho.

👑 🐐 Vicente Lopez

@V1nny5596529507

LINK

Nooooo. Don’t show. She soo pure.

WilsonBurgh

@BUMPYJOHN22

LINK

She look like Cindy from Scary Movie.

StatKing

@StatKingAI

LINK

She's cooked if they have a bad game.

In addition to the trio at courtside, there were other Indiana Fever players in the suites. Lexie Hull, Aari McDonald, Makayla Thompson and Sophie Cunningham were all cheering near the rafters of Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Caitlin Clark and the Fever won't be back in action until Saturday, when they welcome the defending champions New York Liberty. They are likely to be in attendance again in Game 4 on Friday.

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Coach Stephanie White provides injury update on Caitlin Clark

Speaking to reporters after Monday's practice, Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White provided some updates on Caitlin Clark's injury. Clark has begun participating in workouts but hasn't played a full team scrimmage, along with fellow injured teammate Sophie Cunningham.

"We're ready to start ramping back up and make sure," White said. "It's completely different when you're just doing one-on-one workouts than when you're out there in five-on-five, getting up and down the floor, moving laterally. So she's been allowed to do some practicing, not everything."

The Fever are 2-3 since Clark's quad injury, losing to the Washington Mystics and Connecticut Sun in their first two games. They bounced back following the acquisition of Aari McDonald and getting their lick back against the Mystics before beating Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky.

However, they came back down to earth after a huge 22-point whooping from the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday.