Caitlin Clark is making headlines as the WNBA’s newest star, but there’s more to her story than just her incredible skills on the court. While basketball fans are watching to see how the Indiana Fever’s top draft pick performs in the pros, many are also curious about her life off the court—especially her relationship with her boyfriend, Connor McCaffery.
But let’s rewind for a minute. In case you’ve been living under a rock, Caitlin Clark is basically the new LeBron James of women’s basketball. The point guard became a household name during her college career at the University of Iowa, breaking records left and right. She wowed audiences with her scoring ability and court vision, eventually becoming the all-time leading scorer in NCAA women’s basketball history. No big deal, right?
So, when the WNBA draft rolled around in 2024, it was no shocker that the Indiana Fever snagged her with the first pick. Now, everyone’s waiting to see how she’ll dominate the pros like she owned college ball.
But while Clark’s been busy becoming a basketball legend, she’s also been building a relationship with someone who understands the game inside and out. Enter Connor McCaffery, her boyfriend and fellow baller. If you’re curious about the guy who’s dating basketball’s newest superstar, stick around, because we’re about to dive into all the details on Clark’s off-court MVP.
Who is Caitlin Clark’s boyfriend?
Connor McCaffery with his dad and head coach, Fran McCafferey. Image: Alex Slitz/Getty Images.
Caitlin Clark’s other half is Connor McCaffery, and he’s no stranger to the basketball world. Like Clark, McCaffery played college ball for the University of Iowa Hawkeyes.
He’s not just about basketball, though. This guy’s got brains to match his athletic skills: McCaffery graduated from Iowa in 2023 with not one, but two bachelor’s degrees in finance and political science. During his time at Iowa, McCaffery was a standout both on and off the court. He earned his team’s Academic Excellence Award for five seasons and was named a five-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
After college, McCaffery landed a gig with the NBA’s Indiana Pacers as a team assistant. His approach to the job? “All-hands on deck,” as he told the Des Moines Register. “I’ll play dummy defense, run the scout team, help coaches on film stuff, help on video projects if they need, scouting reports if they need,” he explained. “Whatever you’re asked to do, be ready to do it.”
Basketball runs deep in McCaffery’s family. His dad, Fran McCaffery, is actually the head basketball coach at the University of Iowa. Fran’s been coaching since 1983 and is currently in his 28th season as a head coach. Now,McCaffery’s got his sights set on a coaching career, following in his father’s footsteps.
“It’s a way in,” Connor told the Des Moines Register about his current job. “It’s an entry-level job. You’ve got to work hard and work your way up. That’s obviously what I want to do.”
How did Caitlin Clark and Connor McCaffery meet?
It turns out that Clark and McCaffery’s love story has a classic “friends first” beginning. The basketball world might be small, but in this case, it was McCaffery’s younger brother, Patrick, who played matchmaker—albeit unintentionally.
“We were always friends,” McCaffery shared in an interview with the Times-Union. “She was friends with Patrick. I was friends with her. Our teams hung out together. We had good relationships with the women’s team and we just eventually started hanging out.”
So, it seems Clark and McCaffery’s paths crossed naturally during their time in Iowa’s basketball program—and the fact that both the men’s and women’s teams socialized together created the perfect environment for their friendship to blossom into something more.
McCaffery seems to view their transition from friends to partners as pretty natural. As he put it, “it was just kind of easy how it all worked out.”
When did Caitlin Clark & Connor McCaffrey start dating?
Clark and McCaffery’s love story officially kicked off in April 2023, but they kept things on the down-low for a while. They made it Instagram official four months later when Clark posted a cozy boat pic with McCaffery, along with the caption, “Best end to summer.”
Since then, the pair have been pretty open about their relationship on social media. On their first anniversary in April 2024, Clark shared a sweet black and white photo, writing: “One year of the best mems w my fav person 🖤 you make everyday better and I can’t wait for many more adventures together… love you 🤞🏻😇.”
McCaffery’s response was equally heartwarming. He posted his own anniversary tribute, saying, “doing life w u has been easy, and you never cease to amaze me.. can’t wait to watch u live out ur dreams in person 🤞🏼 love you ❤️”
The couple has been supportive of each other’s achievements throughout their relationship. On Clark’s 22nd birthday in January 2024, McCaffery also posted a heartfelt tribute: “Happy Birthday 22. Wish I was there to celebrate with you – you deserve the best day. Golden Bday/T Swift year will be the best yet,” he wrote. “With all that you’ve already accomplished, there is so much more in store for you and your special self. I admire you in every way and I love you.”
His prediction about “so much more in store” for Clark proved accurate. Just a month later, she became the all-time leading scorer in NCAA women’s basketball history, surpassing Kelsey Plum’s 3,527 points. When Clark broke the scoring record, McCaffery was right there cheering her on via social media, along with other sports legends.
As Clark transitions to her professional career with the Indiana Fever, it’s clear she’s got a solid support system in McCaffery. He understands the demands of high-level basketball and seems ready to cheer her on every step of the way. There’s nothing like having a fan both on and off the court!
