Tyrese Haliburton mourns Nancy Leonard, 'First Lady of Indiana basketball,' after her death at 93

Nancy Leonard, long revered as the "First Lady of Indiana basketball," died Wednesday at 93, Pacers officials confirmed. The loss drew immediate tributes from across the Indiana basketball community. Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers' star guard, posted on X Wednesday morning that 'Before every game, I knew I could count on a wink and a smile behind the bench. There is no Pacers basketball without Nancy Leonard. Can’t wait to see the day her name is in the rafters where it belongs. RIP to a legend and a beautiful soul.'

Leonard and her husband, Bob "Slick" Leonard, who died four years ago, are credited with saving Pacers basketball dating back to the ABA days when the league and teams struggled to stay afloat. She served as the team's assistant general manager from 1976-80. In 1977, Leonard ran a season-ticket telethon broadcast on television that kept the franchise alive. Pacers Sports & Entertainment ownership issued a statement saying, 'Quite simply, we would not be here without her,' noting she poured her heart and soul into the team, not just as the wife of Slick Leonard but as a trailblazer who rallied the community when it needed it most.

Former Pacer Scott Pollard, who played for the team from 2003-06, paid his respects on X. Pollard wrote that Leonard was the first person to drive him around Indiana when he was traded there and that she became a friend. 'What a wonderful legacy her and Slick created. Indiana as a state owes them a debt that cannot be repaid.'

The Pacers made the NBA Finals last season, and they might have upset the Oklahoma City Thunder in the conference finals if not for Haliburton's torn Achilles in Game 7. Haliburton will miss the entire 2025-26 season while he rehabs the injury, and Indiana appears to be retooling after letting Myles Turner walk in free agency. As the organization moves forward, officials have stressed the importance of honoring Leonard's legacy while building a new chapter for a franchise guided by a community-duty mindset that helped sustain it through decades of ups and downs.

The passing of Nancy Leonard closes a chapter of Indiana basketball history but also reinforces the imprint she and Slick Leonard left on the franchise and the state. Colleagues, former players and fans alike described her as a driving force behind the Pacers’ continuity during financially perilous years, and as a mentor who demonstrated how community support can stabilize a sports franchise. In the wake of the loss, the organization has signaled its intent to honor that legacy as it recalibrates its roster and strategy for a season without its star player.