Here's How Caitlin Clark's Boyfriend Celebrated Her WNBA Debut (2024)

Caitlin Clark's No. 1 fan is always there to cheer her on—even during the little moments.

On May 14, the star point guard made her WNBA debut with the Indiana Fever in a game against the Connecticut Sun. And her boyfriend Connor McCaffery celebrated by resharing a video on X (formerly known as Twitter) of Caitlin walking into the arena for the first time.

In the clip, Caitlin wears a pair of Tibi black jeans, Nike x Tiffany sneakers, and a Tiffany mini tote. She smiles as she walks into the Mohegan Sun Arena.

This isn't the only love Connor has shown his girlfriend over the recent weeks. He's also liked a number of posts on X about basketball legend Lebron James defending Caitlin from online haters.

"There's a very small number of men and women that actually get to live out their dream of playing the professional sport," Lebron said during the May 22 of his Mind The Game podcast. "And we have grown-ass men and women out here doing whatever they can to try to make sure that does not happen."

"That is the weirdest thing in the world, but it is what it is, and I'm glad that Caitlin has a great head on her shoulders," he added.

Connor, who works for the Indiana Pacers, has been rooting for his girlfriend throughout her very first WNBA season. Thanks to the Fever drafting Caitlin, the couple were just reunited in Indiana, and they couldn't be happier.

“It’s great, obviously it makes the transition a little bit easier,” Caitlin told the IndyStar in April. “You’ve got people that know the city, and obviously Connor being there is tremendous. I couldn’t imagine a better place to start my professional career.”

But who is Connor McCaffery and what’s he doing now? Here’s everything you need to know about Caitlin Clark's boyfriend:

Connor is the son of Iowa coach Fran McCaffery.

The basketball doesn't fall too far from the hoop! Connor McCaffery is the son of Fran McCaffery, who is currently the men's basketball head coach at the University of Iowa. Before arriving at the University of Iowa, he served as head coach at Lehigh University, UNC Greensboro and Siena College.

“We got into coaching right out of college and grinded our way up in the coaching profession,” Fran told The Gazette of his longtime coaching partner, Tom Izzo. “Being around young people on a daily basis keeps you young. And I don't look at my job any differently today than I did in 1983. I know that sounds weird, but it's the truth."

Fran just wrapped up his 28^th season as a head coach, BTW.

But Fran and Connor aren't the only athletic McCafferys. Connor's mom, Margaret, was also a star basketball player for the University of Notre Dame, according to The New York Times. Connor’s brother Patrick McCaffery was a star player for Iowa, too. (He just transferred to Butler University, according to The Athletic.)

Caitlin Clark's boyfriend played basketball and baseball at Iowa.

Connor graduated from the University of Iowa last year with majors in finance and political science, per Sporting News. While he was there, he played basketball and baseball. Standing at 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighing 215 pounds, he is perfect for the sport!

Before he focused on basketball, Connor played corner in the outfield and first base in baseball, according to Sports Illustrated. He was also ranked the seventh-best draft prospect in the Big Ten and the 231st-best prospect nationally by D1Baseball.com. In fact, the Des Moines Register said he was on track to enter the Major League Baseball draft in 2020, but injuries and the COVID-19 pandemic threw a wrench in those plans.

It wasn't easy to do multiple sports: Rick Heller, the University of Iowa’s baseball coach, told Hawk Central that Connor had Major League "potential" before he stopped playing the sport. "It's just really hard for a guy to play Power Five basketball in the Big Ten, where it’s physical and you get beat up, then have to show up 20 games into the baseball season and be ready to go," he said.

Connor also played under his father Fran on the basketball team. After arriving at Iowa in 2017 as a four-star basketball recruit, he made some history of his own, earning the second-best assist-to-turnover ratio in NCAA history, per Hawkeye Sports. Over his 166 career games, he averaged 4.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.2 assists. He also won the team’s Academic Excellence Award for five of his six seasons.

It didn’t end there. Connor was also a five-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, three-time NABC Honors Court, two-time Academic All-District First Team, two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and NABC Honors Court honoree, per his school bio.

Even when he didn't hit the court, Connor just wanted to help out the team any way he could. "All I really want to do is win...I could play zero minutes, it really wouldn’t matter to me,” he told Hawk Central. "I’ll still try to affect our team and be somebody [that teammates] can come to with questions."

Connor and Caitlin were friends first.

Caitlin was actually buddies with Connor’s younger brother Patrick first, and they ended up meeting that way. “We were always friends,” Connor told the Times-Union in March. “She was friends with Patrick. I was friends with her. Our teams hung out together. We had good relationships with the women’s team and we just eventually started hanging out.”

Connor added that “it was just kind of easy how it all worked out.”

They hard-launched their relationship in 2023.

Caitlin and Connor became Instagram official in August 2023 when Caitlin shared a series of snaps of the two of them cuddling on a boat.

"Best end to summer🖤" she wrote.

But cameras also caught the couple together at a Nuggets-Timberwolves game in late April.

On April 24, 2024, Caitlin gushed about her one-year anniversary with her "fav person."

"one year of the best mems w my fav person 🖤" she captioned her cute IG, which featured a black-and-white snap of the two snuggling on a coach during draft night. "you make everyday better and I can’t wait for many more adventures together… love you 🤞🏻😇"

Connor commemorated the day with an equally adorable tribute, another black-and-white photo of the two. He posted it alongside a slow-motion video of one of Caitlin's *particularly* sassy on-court reactions.

"One year w the best 🫶🏼," he wrote. "doing life w u has been easy, and you never cease to amaze me.. can’t wait to watch u live out ur dreams in person 🤞🏼 love you ❤️"

Caitlin clearly appreciated the post, writing "Nice video" in the comments section. "😍🖤," she added.

Caitlin Clark's boyfriend currently works for the Indiana Pacers.

Connor joined the staff of the Indiana Pacers last year as a team assistant, according to the Des Moines Register. He helps with scouting, assists with film study, and attends to other coaching needs.

“I’ll play dummy defense, run the scout team, help coaches on film stuff, help on video projects if they need, scouting reports if they need,” Connor explained. “Whatever you’re asked to do, be ready to do it."

"It's a way in. It's an entry-level job," he added. "You've got to work hard and work your way up. That's obviously what I want to do."

His mom, Margaret, has spoken up about how "excruciating" it is to watch her husband coach, adding that she'd prefer her son choose a different path, per Sports Illustrated. But Connor says he's "really excited" about the role.

“I want to get away and try to learn from someone else, somewhere else," he told the Des Moines Register. "I've always been under my dad's shadow and tutelage. Now, learning from someone like coach [Rick] Carlisle... and the assistants they have there, they're all good basketball minds... I'm just going to try to take everything in.”

By the way, Connor has wanted to be a coach since practically forever. He told Sports Illustrated that he used to watch film with his dad when he was a kindergartener.

"I think he sees the game differently than most,” his dad said. “He grew up in the gym, in the locker room, at games, played it his whole life. He's pretty confident in what he's saying. Normally, we see the game pretty much the same way.”

Fran also approves of Connor learning about coaching from someone else. “There are a lot of different ways to do this job, different philosophies," he told SI. "It's important to learn as much as you can, as you progress in the profession. I'm excited for him to go on that journey and continue to learn."

Connor and Caitlin have since been reunited in Indiana after she was drafted to the Fever. And, on April 26, she was spotted cheering for her boyfriend's team during game three of their NBA playoffs match-up against the Milwaukee Bucks. Before the game began, Caitlin joined her new Indiana Fever teammate Aaliyah Boston pump up the accelerator of a replica IndyCar, drawing a standing ovation from nearly 17,000 fans, per the Associated Press.

During halftime, Caitlin joined her new Indiana Fever teammates to throw t-shirts into the crowd, garnering another round of cheers, the outlet says.

In between appearances on the court, Caitlin spent time in a suite, according to People. She also celebrated alongside the crowd when Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton made a particularly impressive shot.

"Bangg," she wrote on her IG Stories, per the magazine. Ultimately, the Pacers won 121-118 in overtime.

But Connor can't always make it to Caitlin's games thanks to his work with the Pacers. During a May 3 media scrum, a reporter asked Caitlin if her "bae" would be attending games. Her response? “Uh no, he’s working,” per Heavy.

“I’m flying solo," she added. "I better get used to it, man. This is the pros, this is my job.”

Connor is supportive of his girlfriend’s basketball career.

Connor has always heaped praises on his talented GF, including for her Elight Eight win over LSU in 2024.

"Out of words for this 1 @caitlinclark22 🫶💛,” Connor gushed on his IG Stories after the game, per The New York Post. He posted the sweet tribute alongside an ESPN graphic, which detailed Caitlin's seven rebounds, nine three-pointers and 12 assists from the game.

Connor cheered Caitlin on during March Madness and attended her final home game in Iowa, the Times Union says. Connor told the paper that he and Caitlin's mom discussed restaurant suggestions for their visit to Albany, where Caitlin played in her Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games.

"I think it’s going to be fun. I think she’ll kill it," he said at the time. "You know how the people in that region love basketball. They’ll appreciate kind of what she’s able to do and watching those teams. There’s going to be some good games in there.”

But Connor's there for the tough times, too. When Caitlin and the Hawkeyes lost to the South Carolina Gameco*cks in the 2024 March Madness national championship, he sweetly called Caitlin his "GOAT."

And, when WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes doubted that Caitlin would break the NCAA women's basketball scoring record in February, Connor clapped back.

"Just imagine doing an interview and being this misinformed," he wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter). "I don’t even understand what she’s trying to say."

When she did break the record, Connor was in the audience. He even said he was "so proud" on his Instagram Story.

"Love you 22,” he added, according to People.

In an Instagram post celebrating Caitlin’s 22^nd birthday, Connor predicted that this will be her “best year yet.” He added in the caption, “With all that you’ve already accomplished, there is so much more in store for you and your special self. I admire you in every way and I love you 🖤.” His brother, Patrick, jokingly wrote in the comments, “The glazing here is crazy.”

When she was drafted to the Fever, Connor was there the entire time. He showed his support of her draft day 'fit with a cheeky message, and even celebrated afterwards with her friends and family at the Fleur Room in New York City.

"my fav person in the world🖤" Caitlin captioned a story of the two of them, which Connor reposted.

His brother Patrick battled cancer.

Connor McCaffery has two brothers, Patrick and Jonathan McCaffery, plus a sister, Marit McCaffery. Patrick also played for the Hawkeyes for five years, after missing the majority of his freshman season when he encountered complications from his cancer treatment.

Patrick, 22, had a malignant tumor removed from his thyroid in 2014, which was terrifying for the McCafferys. Patrick, a college student and basketball player, recently opened up about struggling with anxiety and took a leave of absence from the team, per Hawkfanatic.com. Connor encouraged his brother to be more open about his mental health.

“I don’t think it’s something to be looked poorly upon,” Connor said. “I think it’s brave. I feel like people will understand, and I think he’s actually helping a lot of people by doing that.”

Connor has always been supportive of his younger brother, and even got a tattoo in his honor, per Hawk Central.

Connor’s tattoo, on his arm, reads: “You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and the manner in which you live.” He also has the number 22 tattooed next to the quote, which is Patrick’s number. The quote is from a speech by ESPN anchor Stuart Scott, who died after a battle with cancer, according to the website.

Now, the family will be reunited, as Patrick just transferred to Butler for fifth year of eligibility. On his IG post announcing his transfer, Caitlin commented, "Indy takeover." "I'll let u in on my city," Connor added.

Caitlin Clark's boyfriend has another connection to the number 22.

Of course, Caitlin was #22 for the Hawkeyes, and she accomplished so much that it’ll be retired. “We always knew your jersey would be hanging in the rafters,” the school’s athletic director Beth Goetz said, per CNN. It is a privilege for me to now make that official. You will be the last to wear No. 22.”

But Connor has another connection to the number. His brother Connor was also number 22 during his basketball career at Iowa.

“So proud of this dude… people don’t know what you’ve been through 22 🙏🏼 1k point scorer, Champion, Cancer Survivor ‼️ , and so much more. Keep goin brother 🙏🏼❤️” Connor shared on Instagram.

Patrick chose the number as a tribute to his childhood friend, who died young.

He has several famous quotes tattooed on him.

Connor seems to be a fan of the quote tattoo as he has a few, per his Instagram. In addition to the Stuart Scott quote, he has a famous Martin Luther King Jr. quote tattooed on his leg.

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy,” reads the ink.

Being ‘Caitlin Clark’s boyfriend’ has affected their relationship.

In the ESPN docuseries Full Court Press, Caitlin opens up about the impact all that fame has had on her life—and how it's affected her relationship.

“Hardest part about being Caitlin Clark? I'd say is having to feel like you're always on," the 22-year-old shared in the docuseries. "You just have bad days, and there are days where you don't want to talk to anyone. But somebody comes up to you, and this is their 10-second interaction with you, so you better smile and be kind. But at the same time... you just want to be normal sometimes.”

The docuseries—which detailed life with Caitlin, Chicago Sky forward Kamilla Cardoso and UCLA sophom*ore Kiki Rice—also followed Caitlin and Connor behind the scenes. In one clip, the two shared a sweet breakfast at a diner, but were constantly approached by fans.

“This is not the same as what it was,” Connor tells his girlfriend afterwards. “Me and you, we cannot go and just walk around like nobody knows who you are. That’s not the reality of the situation.”

Connor adds that there are still moments when Caitlin realizes this. “And then she’s like, ‘Damn, that kind of sucks,’” Connor says in a confessional.

Caitlin Clark's boyfriend enjoys downtime with friends and family.

When he’s not busy cheering on Caitlin, Connor spends time with his family, and relaxing. He likes to work out, play video games, watch movies, and spend time with friends and family, per Sports Illustrated.

"I have great relationships with [my parents]," Connor said. "I'll go to them for different things. They're different. It's usually when something is bothering me. Sometimes you just need to vent."