Caitlin Clark’s boyfriend Connor McCaffery’s on-camera kiss at the WNBA All-Star weekend has sparked a mix of reactions from fans, with some expressing suspicion and others mocking the incident. The viral video of the interaction, which occurred as Clark approached McCaffery in the ramparts of Gainbridge Field House, shows McCaffery leaning in to kiss her, but as he did, she turned her head, resulting in a light kiss on her hair. The footage quickly gained traction online, prompting a range of responses from fans, highlighting the couple’s public attention.
McCaffery, an assistant men’s basketball coach at Butler University, has faced previous mockery on social media during a loss to Austin Peay in November when the Fox College Hoops broadcast showed Clark sitting in the stands. The broadcast’s name card identified her as ‘Caitlin Clark 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year,’ while McCaffery’s name card was labeled ‘Connor McCaffery WNBA ROTY Caitlin Clark’s Boyfriend.’ The broadcast even included his brother Patrick McCaffery, who is a player on Butler’s team, with a name card that read, ‘Patrick McCaffery WNBA ROTY Caitlin Clark’s Boyfriend’s Brother.’
Like Clark, Connor played basketball at the University of Iowa, where they met. He played in 166 games at Iowa, all for his father, former Hawkeyes head coach Fran McCaffery. Despite dealing with injuries throughout his college career, he managed to reach the NCAA tournament in each of his full seasons, except for his COVID season. He averaged 4.5 points and 3.0 rebounds, and played in 111 wins, tying Jordan Bohannon for the most in program history. His career assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.59 is the second best in NCAA history.
The couple started dating in April 2023 after Clark led Iowa to the NCAA title game. McCaffery began his coaching career right after graduating, eventually joining the Indiana Pacers as an assistant coach. However, his new job at Butler University places him just seven miles from the Fever’s arena, Gainbridge Field House, keeping their paths intertwined in Indianapolis. The couple’s relationship has been in the spotlight, with Clark making a trip to New York City to watch a Yankees game with McCaffery last August. Only Clark was seen in the Yankees clubhouse and took photos with star players Aaron Judge, Anthony Rizzo, and Juan Soto. Clark recently celebrated McCaffery’s birthday on social media, expressing her gratitude for his presence in her life.