This offseason, Caitlin Clark has clearly set her priorities: family, friends, fairways, and, most of all, flashing back to her glory days at Iowa. Her boyfriend, Butler assistant coach Connor McCaffery, might have expected some side-by-side downtime after a busy season, but instead, Clark left him to fend for himself as she zipped off to her alma mater for a reunion.
Connor, turning to Instagram for some indirect reassurance, shared a snap from a cheerful dinner party. The post from a friend and former colleague read, “Great bday dinner last night with better people,” hinting that the guest list was fulfilling — but noticeably missing a certain star guard from the Indiana Fever. It’s tough for a coach to go solo when he’s used to having one of basketball’s rising stars cheering courtside, but hey, sometimes duty (or nostalgia) calls.
Last seen together just days ago at the Indiana Pacers’ swanky Golden Gala, Caitlin and Connor were dressed to the nines, looking every bit the power couple. Yet, Clark’s more recent highlights have included not glam events but sprints down the familiar Iowa courts, where she once shot her way into college basketball legend. With an enormous grin, she shared memories and laughs with old teammates as Coach Jan Jensen looked on approvingly, perhaps glad to see Clark still has her old fire — though it’s not for a match-up, just a good ol’ Hawkeye reunion.
In a scene straight out of a college rom-com, Clark even made a reel appearance snuggled up next to former teammate Kate Martin’s bed, likely swapping tales of locker-room antics and nail-biting games from the good old days. Fans could almost hear the movie soundtrack as they posed for sentimental snapshots and took a nostalgic trip to the children’s hospital, reviving a team tradition to lift spirits and bring smiles.
And let’s not forget the bling: Clark and her teammates were awarded rings for Iowa’s 2024 Big Ten championship and epic Final Four run — a well-deserved pat on the back for her years of dedication to the Hawkeyes. If there’s one way to keep an athlete’s loyalty, it’s with championship rings that sparkle nearly as much as their memories.
Meanwhile, Connor, once an assistant with the Pacers and now coaching at Butler, could only watch from afar as Clark soaked up her Iowa moments, hoping perhaps for an Instagram Story tag — or even a FaceTime call from the sidelines. For now, he’ll have to contend with solo dinner parties and the possibility of birthday leftovers in the fridge.
But fear not, Connor: Caitlin Clark’s Indy return might be around the corner. The Fever guard is bound to swing back soon, and the Butler coach won’t be lonely at his next celebration. Then again, if the Hawkeye nostalgia bug bites her again, Connor might want to keep a few more Instagram-worthy dinner invites up his sleeve.