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USA Today via Reuters

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USA Today via Reuters

Gainbridge Fieldhouse saw one of its history makers back on her turf this Thursday. Only this time, she traded off her threes and no-look passes to seemingly trolling refs, shouting from the sidelines, and reuniting with former teammates. Iowa was dominating, and Caitlin Clark’s “still go Hawks” spirit just could not be contained. She stayed off her seat nearly the entire game– enough intensity to light up the room and spew up excitement miles afar. But by the looks of it, that clearly wasn’t enough to veer off the eagle eyes of another fandom.

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As the Hawkeyes took on Michigan State University in round 2 of the Big Ten tournament, in the audience were two familiar faces: Caitlin and Connor McCaffery. You could not deny the Iowa icon’s presence, of course. Apart from her own antics, there were enough cameras and recognition from commentators to make sure of that. But the real talk in Caitlin’s sub-fandom? The Butler assistant coach’s t-shirt!

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There hasn’t been a bigger Swiftie in basketball than Caitlin Clark. The 2024 ROTY sat through gruelling traffic, navigated thousands in crowd, and took in all the mumbled gushing to make it to the pop sensation’s concert twice. And you know she’s a truer one when she turned those around her into Swifties too. No, it isn’t just her mother. If Connor’s outfit during his courtside appearance was any indication, a little Swiftie passion was rubbed off him. At least, that was the speculation. But not anymore.

As the women in gold and black dominated the Spartans on Clark’s stomping ground, McCaffery quietly sat focused, adorning his Eras Tour t-shirt. And the social media went wild over it. But if that wasn’t enough confirmation, he admitted it himself on Instagram!

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In a post shared by Bri Lewerke, a well-known sports photographer, both Clark and McCaffery were seen enjoying the Iowa vs MSU game. However, the comments section held an important confirmation within them. Hawkeyes forward Jada Gyamfi called out the Butler coach, calling him a “swiftieeeee.” The former Hawkeye didn’t deny. He responded with a simple “duh.”

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It was a heartwarming confirmation from McCaffery. What’s even more touching, however, is the fact that the Butler assistant coach might have gotten into Taylor Swift just for CC!

“I am for you,” Old Caitlin Clark birthday post reveals true reason behind Butler coach’s Taylor Swift craze

The Iowa power couple is known to go all out when celebrating each other. Birthdays, anniversaries, they hold nothing back during special days. However, a loving celebration  last year turned into a sign of things to come.

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On Caitlin Clark’s 22nd birthday, Connor McCaffery shared a heartwarming Instagram post for his girlfriend. “Happy Birthday 22.” The post read, wishing the Indiana Fever star the happiest birthday and a whole lot of love. “Golden Bday/T Swift year will be the best yet.” This caption, as heart-meltingly cute as it was, was prophetic in some ways. 2024 did turn out to be the ‘T Swift year’ that Connor referenced, and it manifested quite literally.

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However, Caitlin Clark’s response to his post prompted an even cuter reaction. “Acting like y a T Swift fan tho is crazy , but I will let this slide hehe.” She commented under his post, responding with a lot of love and a lot of banter.

“I am for you.” The Butler assistant coach said, revealing his true motivation behind being a Swiftie. Even though McCaffery has since gone to T-Swift concerts and worn her merch, this post reminds us of how dedicated a boyfriend he truly is. He wants to partake in his girlfriend’s interests, and if that isn’t adorable, we don’t know what is!

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Abhijeet Ko

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Abhijeet Ko is a WNBA and NCAA Basketball Writer at EssentiallySports, where his reporting from the Live Coverage Desk brings technical clarity to high-pressure moments. A former national-level athlete, he translates his on-court experience into sharp breakdowns of subtle player movements, team execution, and momentum swings that define outcomes. His work is distinguished by the ability to spot turning points in real time, giving readers a sharper angle on the women’s and college basketball landscape. A Political Science graduate, Abhijeet blends academic training with athletic insight to craft analysis that balances structure with storytelling. Drawing from both competitive experience and journalistic discipline, he helps fans decode the hidden patterns of March Madness chaos, big-ticket WNBA clashes, and the evolving strategies behind the sport. His goal: to make basketball’s most decisive moments accessible, insightful, and deeply engaging for readers.

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Shivatmika Manvi

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