Aug 30, 2024: Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark brings the ball up court against the Chicago Sky. Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Caitlin Clark Make-A-Wish fan tragically passes away after Indiana Fever dream come true

Originally posted on The Athlete Lifestyle on SI
By Matthew Graham | Last updated Aug 31, 2024 12:36 AM ET

Bailey Lux loved the Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball team, especially forming a special bond with Caitlin Clark and teammate Kate Martin.

With both Clark and Martin now in the WNBA, playing for different teams, it took a Make-A-Wish dream come true for Lux, 14, to be able to spend the entire day with her hero Caitlin Clark, now a WNBA superstar for the Indiana Fever, and Kate Martin, now on the Las Vegas Aces.

The Fever did an incredible feature to commemorate Lux’s visit with Clark and the Fever before their game against the Aces in Las Vegas in early July.

making wishes come true

we're thrilled to welcome Make-A-Wish kid Bailey Lux as a member of the team today. Bailey flew from Iowa to Las Vegas for tonight's game, but beforehand we invited her to shootaround where she got her custom jersey and more. pic.twitter.com/zLCLHfjPai
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) July 2, 2024

“It’s been truly a spiritual uplifting,” Kraig Lux, Bailey’s dad, told the IndyStar at the time. “She hasn’t stopped smiling. This is just one of those things that makes her incredibly happy, and we have to take advantage of that.”

The 22-year-old Clark also got emotional talking about Bailey after the visit.

“At the end of the day, basketball doesn’t matter,” Clark said. “That poor girl has obviously lost her mom already to cancer, and then is fighting for her own life. For me, this is what she spent her Wish on, how cool is that… Obviously that makes an impact on her, but it does in my life too.”

"This is what she spent her wish on. How cool is that?"

Caitlin Clark talks about spending time with Make-A-Wish kid Bailey Lux at shootaround and before tonight's game ❤️ pic.twitter.com/KLoZLNeLlB
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) July 3, 2024

Tragically, news broke just around the time the Fever took on the Chicago Sky that Lux had passed away. Lux’s hero, Clark, had a stellar performance that left even the NBA’s X, formerly Twitter, handle and LeBron James in awe.

Caitlin Clark put on a MASTERFUL performance in the @IndianaFever’s win!

31 PTS (career high)
12 AST
4 REB
5 3PM
8-14 FGM

This is CC’s 5th game this year with 20+ PTS and 10+ AST, the MOST such games in a single season in WNBA history
pic.twitter.com/pkVp3g6d3B
— NBA (@NBA) August 31, 2024

CAITLIN CLARK!!!!! HI HATERS
— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 31, 2024

Chloe Peterson, the one who originally reported on Lux’s visit with the former Iowa teammates, broke the devastating news on X.

Avid 14-year-old Hawkeye fan Bailey Lux, who had a rare form of cancer, sadly passed away on Wednesday.

Make A Wish, with help from Kate Martin and Caitlin Clark, flew Bailey and her family out to Las Vegas last month for a Fever-Aces game:https://t.co/wOBVIeWlNW
— Chloe Peterson (@chloepeterson67) August 30, 2024

And in the most awesome follow-up to this devastating story, Lux’s family is encouraging funeral guests to wear Iowa Hawkeyes gear.

In line with her Iowa fandom, people are encouraged to wear Hawkeye gear to her funeral.

Bailey’s obituary:https://t.co/ICr4jKKnqi
— Chloe Peterson (@chloepeterson67) August 30, 2024

Bailey Lux is truly an inspiration.

This article first appeared on The Athlete Lifestyle on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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