Caitlin Clark’s boyfriend Connor McCaffery has shared an emotional tribute to his grandma, who tragically died in a lake earlier this week at the age of 80. The WNBA star left a comment on the post.

Connor McCaffery, boyfriend of Caitlin Clark, has posted a heartfelt message following the tragic passing of his grandmother at age 80.

Marit Smaby-Nowlin was discovered unresponsive in Minnesota’s Lake Vermilion earlier this week and tragically died despite rescue efforts. McCaffery announced the devastating loss through an Instagram post.

WNBA sensation Clark, who has been romantically linked with the Butler University basketball coach since 2023, offered her support by commenting with heart and prayer emojis on the tribute. This development occurs while the Rookie of the Year remains sidelined from the Indiana Fever due to ongoing injury concerns.

According to the Minnesota-Star Tribune, emergency responders received a distress call around 6pm Wednesday regarding an elderly woman in trouble. The Sheriff’s Office confirmed that first responders discovered family members performing CPR on Smaby-Nowlin when they arrived.

Medical personnel transported her to Cook Hospital after bringing her to shore, but medical teams were unable to save her life. Reports suggest she was enjoying a family getaway at Lake Vermilion when the incident occurred.

Sharing a childhood photograph with his grandmother, McCaffery expressed: “I’ve been trying to think of what to say and I can’t. It’s impossible to put into words how much you meant to our entire family. I refuse to say goodbye, so until we meet again.”

McCaffery’s younger sister Marit shared her own heartfelt message on social media, penning: “No one else I would want to be named after. It is the greatest honor. Cannot wait to see you again one day mormor.”

Clark and McCaffery’s romance blossomed during the WNBA sensation’s basketball days at Iowa. Her professional trajectory has soared to new heights since that time, though this current season has been marred by a string of physical setbacks.

The 23-year-old has been sidelined for the Fever’s previous 12 contests, including Friday’s loss to the Mystics, putting their postseason aspirations in jeopardy.

Nightmare continues for Fever as Sophie Cunningham joins Caitlin Clark on injured list
The team has confirmed that Cunningham will miss the remainder of the WNBA season after suffering an MCL tear last Sunday.

Nightmare continues for Fever as Sophie Cunningham joins Caitlin Clark on injured list

The Indiana Fever’s form in 2025 has been affected by injuries to key players and the team’s luck is getting no better.

On Sunday Sophie Cunningham suffered a knee injury during a game against the Connecticut Sun and she was forced from the court. She underwent an MRI on Monday and was found to have torn her MCL, an injury that will see her miss the remainder of the WNBA season.

Cunningham is expected to make a full recovery but the Fever will be without her as they chase a championship later this year. Cunningham had appeared in 30 of the Fever’s 35 games this season, averaging 8.6 points and 3.5 rebounds.

However it was her on-court partnership with guard Caitlin Clark that had proved most valuable, sticking up for the young star in the face of increasingly physical play from opponents. In June Cunningham was ejected from a prior game against the Sun after she clashed with Jacy Sheldon. Clark had been on the receiving end of some aggression from Sheldon earlier in the game.

After Cunningham’s injury was confirmed on Tuesday, teammate Clark shared a brief note to her on Instagram. Clark shared a post from the Fever about Cunningham’s injury, alongside the words, ‘Love you always soph’.

Cunningham has also paid credit to Clark this season, describing her as ‘the face of the league’ and helping to bring new audiences to the WNBA. A meeting between the Fever and the Chicago Sky drew 2.7 million viewers and Cunningham believes that other players should be grateful for the impact.

“This is what we’ve always wanted as a league, so like, who cares who gets the credit,” Cunningham said. “And if you’re smart, [you know] you’re making money off them… Just be nice. Why can’t people be nice?”