Basketball fans are still waiting for Caitlin Clark to begin her third WNBA season, and anticipation around her return continues to build after an injury-disrupted 2025 campaign. Clark entered last season hoping to build on her Rookie of the Year debut, but repeated injuries limited her availability and interrupted what had been shaping into another breakout year with the Indiana Fever.
Despite the setbacks, Clark reminded fans of her dominance earlier this year when she played in the FIBA Women’s World Cup qualifying tournament. The 24-year-old star led Team USA to a perfect record and earned the tournament’s MVP honors.
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Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark.Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
Her performance has only intensified excitement for her return to Indiana, where Clark has already transformed the Fever into one of the league’s marquee franchises.
Through two seasons, she has become the centerpiece of the organization and a fan favorite, while establishing herself as one of the WNBA’s biggest stars.
As Clark prepares for the 2026 season, her boyfriend, Connor McCaffery, announced the end of his time with Butler Bulldogs men’s basketball. McCaffery posted a farewell message on Instagram thanking head coach Thad Matta and the Butler staff after completing two seasons as an assistant coach.
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Clark responded in the comments with a simple two-word message: “Fun times 💙”
McCaffery, son of longtime college coach Fran McCaffery, began his post-playing career in 2023 with the Indiana Pacers in basketball operations before joining Butler’s staff in 2024. A former Iowa Hawkeyes guard and baseball player, he spent six collegiate seasons with the Hawkeyes before moving into coaching.
His Butler stint marked his first full-time NCAA bench role and gave him early experience in one of college basketball’s major conferences.
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Throughout that period, Clark remained one of his most visible supporters. Since the couple went public with their relationship in 2023, she has regularly attended Butler events and publicly supported his coaching path, just as McCaffery has frequently appeared courtside for Fever games and major milestones in her career.
As McCaffery prepares for his next move, he will be cheering Clark on during another pivotal year in her career. Clark has already built one of the strongest early résumés in league history: Rookie of the Year, two All-Star honors, and record-setting performances. Expectations are high that a healthy Clark can take another leap and push the Fever deeper into title contention.
Related: Caitlin Clark Breaks Silence on Alleged Off-Court Move
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Apr 11, 2026, where it first appeared in the WNBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.