Pacers One Win from NBA Title — Assistant Coach Jenny Boucek Poised to Make History

The Indiana Pacers are now just one victory away from their first-ever NBA Championship — and with it, assistant coach Jenny Boucek stands on the brink of making league history.

With the Pacers taking a commanding 3–2 lead in the NBA Finals following a 109–104 win over the Los Angeles Lakers, the team has momentum — and so does Boucek, who could become the first woman to win an NBA title as a coach on the bench.

Boucek, a former WNBA player and coach, has long been a respected figure in professional basketball. She has served in assistant roles with the Seattle SuperSonics, Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavericks, and now the Pacers — consistently praised for her player development and basketball IQ.

“Jenny is as sharp and prepared as any coach in this league,” said Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle. “She’s earned everything coming her way.”

Boucek’s presence on the Finals stage is more than symbolic. Players credit her with helping guide the Pacers’ defensive adjustments throughout the playoffs and providing crucial in-game reads — particularly against elite offenses like the Lakers’.

Should Indiana clinch the championship in Game 6, scheduled for Tuesday, Boucek would become a trailblazer in a sport still working toward gender inclusivity at the coaching level.

“I don’t think of it as breaking barriers,” Boucek told reporters earlier in the series. “I just focus on doing great work and earning the respect of the people around me.”

But make no mistake — if the Pacers win the title, history will be made.