Move over, Bryce Harper—the real star in Philly just might be Caitlin Clark, at least when it comes to charming sports fans with her honesty and a dash of humor. The WNBA phenom recently found herself at the center of attention for her unbreakable ties to the Philadelphia Phillies, and no, it’s not because she’s hopped on the Bryce Harper hype train (even though she does like him). Rather, it’s love that sealed the deal—her boyfriend, Connor McCaffery, is a die-hard fan.
“Blame Connor!” Clark laughed when asked about her Phillies allegiance during a casual media chat, waving off the “bandwagon fan” accusations faster than Harper swings at fastballs. She swiftly clarified that her newfound affection for Philly baseball stems from her relationship, not because she’s chasing the team’s October success. Classic Clark—disarming with a smile while firmly standing her ground.
Not a Baseball Buff, But She Loves a Good Bandwagon Allegation
“I mean, I like the Phillies, sure. Bryce Harper? Love him. But I’ve got other teams too!” Clark admitted, revealing that her heartstrings are spread across MLB, much like her jump shots across the WNBA court. “I still like the Cubs and the Yankees. But I’m not a die-hard fan of any baseball team. The Phillies? That’s all Connor. I just love the guy… and now, I guess, the team too.”
This isn’t the first time Caitlin’s caught flak for supposed bandwagon behavior. Her sports fandom extends well beyond baseball and back to her Iowa roots, where professional teams are as rare as a low-scoring game in her career. With Kansas City just a stone’s throw from Des Moines, Caitlin grew up cheering for the Chiefs—pre-Mahomes magic era, mind you—making her an OG supporter. That’s right, Clark was riding with KC before everyone else was shouting “Mahomes for MVP!”
“I liked the Chiefs before they were even good,” Clark emphasized, firmly planting her anti-bandwagon flag. “Back when I had to defend my fandom for not being a fair-weather fan, now they’re just…you know, Super Bowl champions every other year.”
No Iowa Teams? No Problem
Caitlin’s sports loyalty has never been confined to one city. With no professional sports teams in Iowa, she spread her love far and wide. Her dad was a Royals fan, Connor loves the Phillies, and Caitlin? She’s just enjoying the ride. “Honestly, I’m not obsessed with any one team. I just love sports.”
In the WNBA, Clark found her closest hometown heroes in the Minnesota Lynx, proving that even in basketball, her loyalty spreads beyond borders. And it’s not just her own career lighting up the scoreboard—boyfriend Connor McCaffery, the jack-of-all-sports-trades, recently took up coaching at Butler University. From playing for Iowa to assisting with the Indiana Pacers, McCaffery’s résumé is nothing to sneeze at. Between the two of them, they’ve got sports clout to spare.
So, to all those crying “bandwagon”—Clark’s got a simple answer: “I’m not just here for the win—well, except when I’m on the court. Then, I’m always here for the win.”
Playoff Predictions: Go Phillies! … Probably
As for the MLB postseason, Clark is ready to cheer on the Phillies, but she’s not making any bold predictions—she’ll leave that to Connor. “I’ll cheer for them, sure. But I’m not here acting like I’ve been a fan since the days of Mike Schmidt.”
So, while Caitlin Clark might have accidentally become a Phillies fan through love, she’s definitely no fair-weather fan when it comes to her true teams. She’ll be watching the playoffs, popcorn in hand, cheering for Bryce and the boys—but don’t expect her to turn into Philly’s biggest cheerleader overnight. Unless, of course, they win the World Series, then we might see a bit more of that famous Clark swagger.
Until then, she’ll keep draining threes, laughing off bandwagon accusations, and winning both games—and hearts—on and off the court.