It seems the only thing more captivating than Caitlin Clark’s sharpshooting is her ability to upstage just about anyone—even her own boyfriend. The Indiana Fever star and reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year has become a courtside fixture at Butler University’s men’s basketball games, thanks to one small detail: her boyfriend, Connor McCaffery, is now an assistant coach for the Bulldogs. But if you think Connor’s getting all the attention, think again. Spoiler alert: He isn’t.
Clark has been making regular appearances at Hinkle Fieldhouse, where the Bulldogs are trying their best to focus on basketball while simultaneously sharing the spotlight with the reigning queen of the hardwood. After all, when you’re Caitlin Clark, just showing up is enough to break the internet. Exhibit A: her facial expressions going viral on the Jumbotron during Butler’s 72-65 season-opening win over Missouri State.
And if you thought that was all, think again. During Butler’s game against Austin Peay, Clark casually threw the women’s basketball world into chaos again, this time by simply… wearing glasses. Yes, glasses. Apparently, that’s all it takes for Caitlin Clark to stir up a frenzy. Soon after the camera caught her chic specs moment, FOX couldn’t resist connecting her fame to those closest to her.
In a moment of broadcast brilliance (or comedic gold, depending on how you see it), FOX decided to introduce Connor McCaffery with the caption: “WNBA ROTY Caitlin Clark’s Boyfriend.” If that wasn’t enough, when the camera panned to Connor’s brother, Patrick McCaffery, who actually plays for Butler, the caption one-upped itself with: “WNBA ROTY Caitlin Clark’s Boyfriend’s Brother.” Ouch.
Let’s just take a moment to digest that. Patrick, who is an actual player, with a jersey and everything, was reduced to being “Caitlin Clark’s boyfriend’s brother” in the eyes of the broadcast. You can’t make this stuff up. Naturally, social media had a field day with it. “Nasty work,” one X (formerly Twitter) user exclaimed, accompanied by a screenshot of the @CBBonFOX TikTok that immortalized the moment. Another fan sarcastically chimed in: “She really is the needle mover…cause this dude legit plays on the team that these broadcasters were announcing.”
Whether you find this hilarious or mildly disrespectful, one thing’s clear: Caitlin Clark is a bona fide star, and her gravitational pull is as strong on the sidelines as it is on the court.
Maybe Connor and Patrick should start introducing themselves as “Caitlin Clark’s personal cheer squad.” At this point, it’s probably a better icebreaker than explaining what they actually do at Butler.
