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Caitlin Clark’s Boyfriend Upset After Loss on Thursday
Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Caitlin Clark’s relationship with Connor McCaffery has remained steady as her fame in the WNBA continues to grow. Clark, one of the league’s brightest stars, often shares moments of support from McCaffery, who is frequently seen at her games.

Their relationship began at Iowa, where both were standout athletes, and fans have come to admire how grounded she remains despite her soaring profile. McCaffery, now an assistant coach at Butler, has been a consistent source of encouragement throughout Clark’s rise to national stardom.

Outside of basketball, McCaffery is a passionate sports fan—especially when it comes to Major League Baseball’s Philadelphia Phillies. He has long been vocal about his love for the team and regularly posts about them during the MLB season.

Butler Bulldogs assistant coach Connor McCaffery© Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

His enthusiasm even rubbed off on Clark, who once admitted her fondness for the Phillies came from him.

“My boyfriend grew up a really big Phillies fan, so I kinda had to like the Phillies,” Clark said back in Sept. 2024 (h/t former Fever beat reporter Matthew Bryne).

Their shared love for sports has become a defining part of their public image. So it was no surprise to see McCaffery’s emotional reaction when the Phillies were eliminated from the postseason Thursday after a heartbreaking loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

He posted a single sad-face emoji on X, a message that quickly caught fans’ attention and sparked several replies.

“Yeah… I'm a die- hard Phillies fan too… and tonight I'm dying hard. So bummed,” one fan wrote.

“Was rooting for the Phillies cause of you Connor! sorry,” another added.

“Shout out to the McCaffery fam… Sorry about your Phillies,” said one fan.

“heartbreaking ending,” another replied.

“Dude Connor I was pulling for your Phillies man! I hate the Dodgers,” a fan wrote.

“So horrible to watch! Ugh,” added another.

The Phillies’ playoff exit came after an impressive regular season in which they finished atop the NL standings. Their season ended on a crushing note after reliever Orion Kerkering’s throwing error in the 11th inning allowed the Dodgers to score the winning run. It was another postseason collapse for Philadelphia, a team built for a deep run but once again undone by costly mistakes.

For McCaffery, a lifelong Phillies supporter, the loss hit hard. His short, heartfelt post summed up the disappointment of an entire fan base.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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