#iowa pride

[unicornery]

MaXXXine had Michelle Monaghan (Winthrop) and Toby Huss (Marshalltown) sharing a scene and even a frame, I give it a million @iowa-mentioned graphics!

[amyashen]

Happy pride from Des Moines

[siriuslyapuff]

mic'd up for aces v fever/ k.martin

kate martin x reader!

summary: you're mic'd up at the Aces game versus the Indiana Fever as your girlfriend plays her (and your) best friend.

!𝑨𝑩𝑩𝒀 𝑺𝑷𝑬𝑨𝑲𝑺¡

okay okay my first wbb fic on here (lol pls be nice)

also, this is my first ever y/n fic so...

Two days before the Aces were set to play the Fever, you were sent an email from the Aces media team. Kate had been sitting behind you as you opened it, laughing immediately at their request. They were practically begging you to be mic’d up at the game, courtside. They wanted you of course, due to your connection as a Hawkeye, deciding to come back for a fifth year instead of entering the draft as you were going for your masters. It also helped that their star rookie was your girlfriend. 

It was an easy decision. You told them, yes, ignoring the teasing from your girlfriend as you did so. Honestly, it seemed like a great idea to you, getting to commentate on your girlfriend and your best friend as they went head to head for the first time as pros. 

“Baby, you realize this is the perfect opportunity for me to embarrass the hell out of you and Cinamon?” Kate got quiet real fast after that threat. 

🂡🂡🂡

The day of the game had arrived, and you decided to go with Kate to the lab, as it was a home game for the Aces. As soon as you arrived the team swarmed upon you, laughing and asking for you to add in specific commentary tonight during the game. 

“No Syd I will not tell everyone you’re single and ready to mingle,” you playfully shove the older woman, laughing with everyone else as she starts to fake cry. “Go away you baby, I gotta go get mic’d.” 

They all began to hype you up as the media crew came over with a little clip-on mic and pac. You listened intently as they walked you through how it would work tonight. You’d be seated right next to your coaches, and former coach Lisa Bluder, and would have the mic the whole game. You couldn’t be more excited as you knew this would give your girlfriend even more publicity and love from the media and fans. 

You turned to her as she grabbed your hand. 

“I’ll see you in a bit when we head over to Michalaub,” she leaned in, connecting your lips, leaving you wanting just a little bit more. 

🂡🂡🂡

The media team had your mic on as you and Kate made your way into the arena for pre-game shoot-outs. The Fever was already there practicing and you giggled to yourself as you saw Caitlin stretching. 

“Hey guys!” You turned to the cameras, “My name is y/n l/n, some of you may know me as number 26 for the Iowa Hawkeyes, and my favorite title, Kate Martin’s girlfriend!” 

The entire team started laughing as you introduced yourself and you turned around to shush them. Cait couldn’t know you were mic’d up yet. It had to be a surprise. 

“Anyways, I’m going to be mic’d up courtside tonight at the game versus the Fever. But for now, I have a reunion to get to.” You winked at the camera, spinning on your heel and cupping a hand to your mouth. 

“Hey, Cinamon!” Her head whipped around from where she was standing with your girlfriend, the two of them having had their reunion. 

“Tink?” Her eyes went wide with disbelief, she’d known you’d be at the game but had no idea you’d be at shoot around. 

The pair of you collided, and she spun you around the same way Kate had done to her. Tears immediately pooled in your eyes at the contact. You and Caitlin had been friends for years, both of you meeting when you played for USA in 2018. You both committed to Iowa and roomed together Freshman year, she was the sister you’d always wanted, and it had been painful to be away from her. 

“How are you?” You whispered, being mindful of the fact that you were mic’d up. 

“I’m fine,” she smiled at you, repeating what she’d said to Kate, and you knew she’d also seen through the bs answer, but you let it go. 

“I’m all mic’d up tonight,” you grinned, pointing at the mic on your shirt, “Kmart’s scared I’ll embarrass her.” 

“Hey, I never said that!” Kate butted into the conversation, “She’s lying CC.” 

“You calling me a liar right now?” You raised an eyebrow, eyes glancing down at the mic on your chest. 

Kate folded immediately, “No Baby, I would never.” 

You and Caitlin look at each other before bursting out into laughter. Some things never change. 

🂡🂡🂡

“Hello, Las Vegas!” You had a cameraman pointed at you from next to one of the hoops, the media crew had told you they had a few different angles on you, all connected to your mic. “I’m here with some of my favorite women!” 

You wrapped an arm around your former head coach as she laughed, wrapping her own arm around your shoulders. 

“Hey Tink,” she pressed a kiss to the side of your head. She’d been the one to give you your on-court nickname. It started as ‘Tinkerbell’ because you would flit around the court like you were flying while playing defense, and the team eventually just shortened it to ‘Tink’. 

“Hey, coach! You excited for tonight?” You pulled on your shirt so she could talk into the mic. 

“Very excited, it’s going to be weird not yelling at Kate and Caitlin, but I guess I’ll manage.” You and Coach Jan erupted into laughter, and so did Coach Hammon who was listening in with a smirk. 

“I’m also joined by my new head coach!” You positioned your body to face Jan, grinning at her. 

“You excited to see our girls play?” 

“Of course I am! I’ve got my phone ready to take all the behind-the-scenes pictures and videos.” 

“Me too!” You grin, “I can’t wait to hit Caitlin and Katie with the evil 0.5s.” 

You hear the whistle blow, and watch everyone come out onto the floor. 

“There’s Cinamon!” Your eyes find Caitlin and she sends you a grin. “Look at her, my sister from another mister.” 

You watch as the Aces get possession of the ball, eyes following Caitlin as she defends Kelsey. Moving down the court you can’t help but laugh as you watch Jackie attempting to guard her. 

“Jackie’s in for a challenge, CC is hard as hell- oh shit- wait fuck- no sorry, am I allowed to swear? Whatever, Cait’s hard to guard. She’s knocked me on my ass -sorry- a few too many times.” 

“Let’s go!” You stand up as Jackie drains the three, smirking at Cait as she runs past you. 

“Cait that's not your basket.” You laugh as she shoots after Kelsey gets a foul. 

Cait turns the ball over and you share a look with Coach Bluder, this has been a problem since you were Freshmen. Caitlin just sees the game differently and is six steps ahead of everyone else. It was you and Kate who were able to keep up with her pace, which is what made you so unstoppable on the court. It would take time for the Fever to match what she was putting down. 

“Come on Cait, shake it off.” You watch as she misses a three, shaking your head, “she's gonna be pissed about that.” 

Your eyes flit away from the game and onto the figure of your girlfriend as she sits on the bench, eyes fixed on Caitlin and the game. 

“Kmoney is locked in everyone, she’s got her serious face on.” 

Caitlin fouls and you let out an audible “oh shit” before apologizing into your mic again. 

“Cait never loses the ball like that- oh she got it back!” 

Your eyes flick between the bench and the court, waiting for the moment Kate takes off her warmups. 

“A’ja’s going to have a nasty bruise from that.” You watch her get popped in the face, the entire crowd going crazy over it. 

“Guys I’m just sitting here waiting for my girlfriend to go in,” you smile at one of the cameras pointed at you, before pointing at the jersey you’re wearing with Kate’s number on it. 

“I'm repping 20 for a reason. Ooo that sounds like the Sabrina Carpenter song ‘Pushing 20’,” you start humming the song. “Kate when you watch this, that should be your theme song.” 

“LET’S GO!” You jump up from your seat as Caitlin drains her first three of the night, holding up three fingers at her. “That’s my best friend!” You side-eye your girlfriend who’s looking at you with a raised eyebrow “Sorry Katie. You’re still number one in my heart.” 

“Okay CC’s on the bench guys, geez she looks wiped already, girl needs some sleep.” 

“Okay, Megan’s getting ready to check in, a win for the Hawkeyes tonight.” You high-five her as she passes you. “Guys I never played with Megan, but she was a legend when CC and I came in as Rookies.” 

Your girlfriend comes running towards you, “Yes Baby!” You catch her warmup shirt that she tosses aside slapping her ass as she passes. 

“My girl is so fine,” you’ve completely forgotten your coaches are sitting next to you until Julie reaches over. 

“Hey, that’s still my niece Tink!” 

“Sorry, Julie!” Caitlin also gets up to check in, squatting down right next to Kate. You watch them exchange smirks, knowing they’ll be guarding each other. “Here we go, Coach!” 

You nudge Coach Bluder who looks a bit teary-eyed herself. 

“Shit Kelsey,” you catch the ball that bounces out of bounds keeping KP from falling on you. 

“Sorry y/n,” she grins before locking back into the game. 

The buzzer goes and you stand up as Kate and Caitlin check into the game together, “That’s my girl!” 

“Guys I might start crying and that’s embarrassing.” You say as you sit back down, eyes filling up with tears. “It’s weird seeing them in different colors, and sitting on the side instead of being on the floor with them.” 

“Sorry guys you might have to cut this,” you stifle a small sob as you watch them defend each other. It was one thing talking about it, and making jokes, but seeing it happen, and not playing yourself was a whole other thing that had your throat tightening. 

“I’m filming!” Jan says, making you let out a choked laugh. You push back the tears, telling yourself to be happy that they’re both living out their dreams. 

You pull out your phone, taking a few photos and videos of your girl and her best friend as they guard each other for the first time outside of carver-hawkeye. 

They’re both trying to play it cool, but the smile on their faces as they sprint down the court towards you tells a different story. 

“CC and Kmart together again.” You point to Cait who points back giving you a grin. 

“All that’s missing is their Tink.” Coach Bluder says, patting your knee. 

“Look at my girl go!” You grin, pointing at Kate who grabbed the ball in the turnover, making her way down the court. 

“How is that not Aces Ball!?” You’re just as pissed as your girlfriend, who’s gotten good at challenging ref’s over the years. “She’s going to complain about that to me later guys,” you whisper into the mic. 

“Okay guys, the first quarter is over. We had our on-court reunion with my favorite Hawkeyes. How are we feeling, because I’m emotional.” You’re having a one-sided conversation with yourself as Coach Bluder gets up to go sit with the commentators for the second quarter. 

“Guys she’s starting in the second quarter! My girl is a pro now!” 

“I’m never letting that go CC,” you say as you watch her basically throw the ball out of bounds. 

“Look at her, I’m literally the luckiest girl in the world.” 

“Cait just missed that three and it landed in Katie’s hands, once upon a time that would have ended up as an assist.” 

Your eyes widen as you watch Kate go down, her knee at a weird angle, your heart in your throat. “That better not be a bad fall.” You say to Jan, “Thank God.” You mutter as she gets up, sprinting down the court.

“Oh shit, that looked like it hurt,” all respect for your language went out the window the moment Kate fell. You were fired up, the worry for your girlfriend at the max. Even as you watched Cait get smacked in the eye. 

“Cinamon shoots two.” She drains the first, “nice CC,” drains the second, “easy money.” 

“Good job Baby,” Kate smiles at you, hand grazing your leg as she walks back to the bench. 

“Syd babes that was a flop.” You laugh watching her go down. 

“Get some Money!” Kate runs past you again to check-in. “Katie in, CC out.” 

“Shit Kate!” Your hand flys to your mouth as you watch her ankle go, and the limp-hop she does after. “That is not good guys. She shook it off pretty good, but I can tell when my girl is in pain.” 

Kate goes down again, and you can’t help but clench your teeth as you hear the skid of her thigh on the court. “Come on baby, shake it off.” She gets up slower this time, you can tell it’s wearing on her, but she's pushing through. 

“Yes, Money Martin with the assist!” 

“Jesus Christ, is it throw y/n’s girlfriend to the ground day or something?” Kate goes down yet again, this time a foul is called, thankfully. A’ja runs to pull her up and you grin, “Look at A’ja helping my girl out like the good vet she is.” 

You turn your head to look over at Caitlin who has her face buried in her towel, only her eyes showing, and you know it’s her way of keeping her eyes on the game without revealing anything. But you can see worry in the crease between her eyebrows, you’re both not liking the ground time Kate’s been getting. 

Kate walks past you as she comes in for the time-out. She sends you a nod, letting you know she’s okay. 

“Okay guys, sorry for the lack of comments, it’s been a bit tense here. Gotta make sure my girl is fine before I can be commentating.” 

“You would make a terrible sports commentator,” Coach Bluder says, laughing at the put-out look on your face. 

“Cooked by Bluder, everyone!” You hold your hand to your chest in mock hurt, “demolished by my coach. But alas, she’s right. I’d just be too busy talking about my girlfriend to be a good commentator.” 

Coach leans closer to you, “She’s censoring herself for you guys, these are tame compared to the comments she drops during Hawkeye practices and games.” 

“Okay, enough mic time for you coach!” 

“Look at her go bringing the ball up! My little pro.” You practically have heart eyes, and for the first time, you see yourself projected on the jumbotron. 

“Oh okay, I see how it is,” You grin, finding the camera that’s projecting you, winking pointing to your jersey, then the court where Kate is.

The crowd goes insane, causing some of the players to look up, earning a laugh from Caitlin and a wink from Kate. 

“I’m more popular than both of them combined.” 

Kate comes back to the bench again and you squeeze her hand as she passes. She sends you a smile, finding her seat next to Megan again, both of you locking back into the game. 

“Let's go! Halftime baby!” You stand from your seat. “See you guys after the break!” 

🂡🂡🂡

“Okay everyone I’m back! Let's go! I have a feeling we’ll be getting some money this quarter.” 

You turn to look at the empty seats around you. “Well, you may notice I am now awkwardly here alone. Coach Bluder and Coach Jenson are off socializing, so I’m left to man the fort.” 

“I can’t believe they called that a foul,” you mutter, as Coach Hammon goes to challenge the foul a second time. 

“My lover is back in the game, you guys.” You watch as Smith misses both foul shots. 

“That was a waste of a foul.” 

“MONEY!” You shout, jumping to your feet as Kate scores her first points of the day, draining a three with ease. “That’s my fucking girl! Let’s fucking go! We are so back!” 

Kate points to you as she runs down the court, making a heart with her hands as you hold up three fingers. 

“Get her babe!” Kate’s on Caitlin again, and your bias towards your girlfriend begins to show as she plays solid defense. 

After A’ja’s fouled you can see Caitlin talking to the ref about Kate, you can’t make out what they’re saying, but it’s got Kate smirking. 

“They’re talking mad shit to each other, I just know it,” you whisper into the mic. “I wonder how personal those insults are getting.” 

“Baby’s gone beast mode,” you say as you watch Kate celebrating A’ja’s shot. 

“Look at her cheesin’ isn’t she the cutest.” You watch Kate grin at whatever Caitlin says to her. 

“Kmoney for the block!” You yell, “a fucking beast!” 

You stand as she goes for the three, but it rims and falls out of the basket, “shake it off, baby! Plenty more buckets to make!”

“Quarter three is over guys, and my beautiful girlfriend has been burning up the court!” 

“That’s my fucking girlfriend!” You stand throwing up three fingers as Kate drains her second three of the night. “Redemption baby!” 

She points at you as she runs back down the court. 

“Kmart is on fire right now guys!” 

“That’s a fucking foul! Yeah, call that shit! It’s in Let’s fucking go!” You’re on your feet, ignoring the laughs from your coaches at your yelling, you’re saying everything you can’t say when you’re on the bench. 

“My girl is the goat guys. She’s on fucking fire.” 

Kate's eyes find yours, grinning when she sees you standing, clapping for her, a triumphant smile on your face. 

“Drained it!” You watch her make the foul shot, clapping your hands together as you finally sit back down. The jumbotron is split between the two of you, one half showing you’re over the top reaction and the other replaying her basket. 

Caitlin stands in front of you as she checks back into the game. “Let’s go CC,” you can’t see her face, but you can sense her little smirk. 

“Y’all see the bruises on that girl’s arms? Geez, maybe I need to send her some arm guards for real.” Coach Bluder bursts out into laughter at that. 

“Katie’s back on the bench guys, so my commentary will be limited as I will now spend this time admiring her.” Your coaches snort, as they know this is a very common occurrence for you. But you ignore them, eyes finding the tired ones of your girlfriend. 

‘you okay?’ you mouth, looking at her intently. 

She nods, ‘I’m good, love you.’ 

‘I love you too.’ 

Your eyes move back to the court, finding Caitlin’s very tired-looking figure. Her hands are on her knees and you just know she's done for the night. She spends more time in the game than on the bench, and it’s wearing on her. WNBA is way more physical and demanding compared to the NCAA, and Caitlin is getting the short end of the stick. 

You pull out your phone, pulling up her contact. 

‘cinnamon, if i don’t receive photo evidence of you resting over the next few days. i’ll fly to indiana and sit next to your bed while you sleep.’ 

You hit send, knowing she won’t see it until after the game, and that you could tell her in person, but this way she knows you were thinking about it during the game itself. 

“CC is 100% done for the night guys, she’s tired.” You say as you watch her check out of the game and head to the bench. 

“But my girl is back in playing the last few minutes of the game!” 

The quarter moves on and your eyes intently follow Kate as she runs up and down the court. But you’re silent as you observe, too entranced with Kate to remember your mic’d. That is until she’s fouled again.

Your breath catches in your throat as you watch her knee go at a dangerous angle yet again as she goes for the three. 

“You’re literally kidding!? Yeah, that’s another fucking whistle!” You watch her take a few stumbling steps before regaining her footing. “You got this Katie.” 

“Three foul shots, if she makes just one, guys, she’ll go double digits for this game!” 

“Get in there… YES!” You grin, clapping your hands together as you will the ball to go in. 

“And she hits the second, that’s my fucking girlfriend!” You can hear A’ja laughing at you from the bench and you send her a look, getting a grin back in response. 

“All three! Twelve points tonight for my girl!” 

“And Aces win!” You jump up from your chair as the buzzer sounds. Your arms wrap around Coach Jensen as she stands up as well, both of you laughing with joy for Kate. You pull away, your eyes finding Caitlin on the floor, sending her a smile, asking with your gaze if she's okay. She nods at you, knowing you want to spend the next few minutes with Kate. 

‘See you later?’ you mouth and she nods again. 

“Kate was on fire tonight!” Jan exclaims, “Twelve points is incredible for her!” 

“She was amazing,” you say as you see her heading back from the commentator stand. She jogs over to where you guys are, launching herself into your arms. 

“Hi baby,” she says into your neck, hands around your waist. 

“Hi lovebug,” you tighten your arms around her neck, “you played so well tonight.” 

“Mmm,” she mutters, nose still pressed against your throat. “I need you at all my games now.” 

“Every game this summer till training camp for Iowa, baby.” She pulls back, finally pressing her lips to yours, not a care in the world for whoever is around. 

She pulls back, glancing down at the mic still attached to your shirt. “Alright guys, I hope you had fun listening to my amazing girlfriend’s commentary, but now I want her all to myself.” 

Kate plucks the mic from your shirt, handing it off to one of her coaches before taking your hand and leading you towards the rest of your little ‘party’. 

🂡🂡🂡

After the game, you meet up with Caitlin, pulling her into your arms, knowing how she beats herself up after a loss. She melts into your arms as if you’re sixteen again and living without a care in the world. 

“You played good tonight cinnamon, don’t beat yourself up. You’re drained from your game in LA.” 

“I know,” she mumbles, “it still sucks.” 

You rub her shoulders, sending Kate a reassuring smile at the look of concern on her face. “It’ll get better CC, you just can’t let yourself burn out. You gotta take care of yourself.” 

“I’m trying Tink. It’s hard. But I’m trying.” 

“Call me whenever you get down, okay?” You pull back, looking her in the eyes. “I’m here for you, Katie’s here for you. We want you to be happy and enjoy yourself. So talk to us okay?”

“Okay.” She smiles, a mischievous look crossing her face, and you know what’s coming because you saw her do it to Kate and yelled at her for it. 

“Don’t you fucking dare Clark!” 

“Too late,” she smirks, hand connecting with your ass. You yelp shoving her away. 

“Hey, woah woah, hands off Clark.” Kate pulls you into her arms, making sure you don’t step on her, as she’s not wearing shoes, again. 

Cait puts her hands up, grinning. “Sorry Cap.” Kate makes a face, hand going down to wrap around your waist, keeping you at her side and away from Caitlin’s ass slaps. 

The three of you were back together again, and you knew, somehow everything would be okay.

[foreingersgod]

End of the Day . CC

pairing: caitlin clark x reader

synopsis: caitlin’s rookie year hasn’t been going as smoothly as she had planned and it’s starting to take a toll on her. at least she has you there for her at the end of every game

WARNING: by no means, because i’m defending caitlin, will i tolerate any sort of racism/sexism on this post or on my page in general. just because we want to support her doesn’t mean we need to say completely unnecessary and racist things about other players. if there is anything of the sort, you will be blocked! this post has nothing to do with ANYONE except caitlin so please remember to be kind and respectful! this fic is meant to be a cute hurt/comfort scenario about struggling as a rookie, please don’t make it into something it’s not :)

every game was agonizing for you to watch. whether you were sat on the couch in front of the TV or sitting somewhere up in the stands, watching caitlin take hit after hit was too much for you to watch. it broke your heart every single time, knowing that with each passing game, it was harder and harder for her to stay optimistic. your sweet and energetic girlfriend now seemed completely wiped out and drained. you heard her meek responses to the press, claiming that it was all “just how basketball was”, but you knew her better than that. you knew it was starting to take a toll on her, caitlin would never call something like this just part of the game.

you often had to close your eyes while watching these games. you hated the way they pushed her around like she was anything less of a player, how she would fall to the ground and squeeze her eyes shut in pain. it made your blood boil to see how much pain she was in. the urge to march down to the court floors and take on these women head on was constantly sitting in the back of your mind. there had been times you had to step outside of the stadium to take a breathe, trying to reassure yourself that cailtin was alright and had it under control.

and she did, she had gotten quite good at keeping a relaxed demeanor despite the physicality on the court. there were times were she would slip up though, letting her temper get the best of her, but she never took it too far and always reminded you that she could handle it. you knew deep down that caitlin only stayed so calm because of you. the last thing she wanted was to upset or worry you, make a big scene that she knew you’d evidently witness. as much as caitlin wanted to scream and argue and fight back, she couldn’t bare the thought of you watching her lose her cool. so she suffered in silence, something she had a habit of, aware of how mad it made you. you wanted nothing more than to comfort her in these times of need, but she was too stubborn to cave in.

it wasn’t until tonight, though, that she had finally reached her breaking point. this last game being the straw that broke the camels back. you hadn’t known what it was, whether it was the flagrant foul or the snide comments made off the court, but it cut caitlin deeper than the rest. unfortunately, you weren’t able to attend this particular game. work ended up being crazy busy and you had to stay longer, cutting into about 30 minutes of game time. you had warned caitlin before the game started, letting her know that you would be watching her from home and that you’d be cheering her on like always.

you don’t think you could get the image out of your head, the moment replaying in your head well after the game had ended. you had settled down on the couch with your ‘22’ t-shirt on and a loose blanket thrown over your lap, watching the game with your jaw clenched. you wanted so badly to stay hopeful tonight, trying to keep a positive mindset. but as the 3rd quarter rolled around, your hopes were quickly diminished. you watched one of the opponents come up behind caitlin, decking her in the shoulder so hard that she was thrown relentlessly to the ground. you cringed in dismay. you sat through the remnants of the game totally gutted for your girlfriend knowing that she’d be beating herself up when she walked through the doors of your home.

once the game had ended, you moseyed your way to the bedroom. after your nightly routine you crawled into bed and pulled out your book, waiting for caitlin’s arrival. you hated when she wasn’t here, the bed colder and lonelier than you’d have liked. it was hard to focus on the words littered across the novels pages as anticipation spread through your body. about 30 minutes had passed when you finally heard the obnoxious screeching of the front doors hinges. a wave of relief washed over you as you listened to familiar foot steps trail throughout the kitchen, eventually padding their way up the stairs.

then she came into view, pushing your bedroom door open quietly. she had assumed you were asleep by now and didn’t want to wake you by being too loud. your head perked up, the book long forgotten somewhere on the sheets as you took in the sight of your girlfriend. she looked burned out, a sad expression chiseled into her features. her hair was messy, cheeks flushed and pale-you assumed had been from crying. she hadn’t noticed you right away, only looking up when you called out her name.

“cait…” you breathed, unsure of what to say. she was clearly bothered, on the verge of tears. normally she’d come home and brush it off, saying that she just needed you and she’d be ok, but tonight was different. she looked inconsolable, standing there at the end of the bed.

“oh, hey baby,” she faked a smile, now dragging her feet to her side of the bed to get changed “you’re up”

“yea,” you offered a smile in return “you know i can’t sleep without you”

the small comment seemed to entice a genuine smile out of her this time, seeing how her lips turned upwards slightly as she pulled a clean tshirt over her head. she joined you in bed, sliding one leg underneath yours to feel the smallest bit of touch from you.

“hey i-uh,” you shook your head. this was a delicate matter that you didn’t know how to approach “i watched the game, cait”

“mhm,” she hummed, now pulling out her phone to mindlessly scroll through social media. possibly to distract her, but seeing the nasty comments about earlier tonight certainly wasn’t going to help.

you weren’t satisfied with her avoidance, deciding to prod further. you couldn’t watch her suffer like this any longer.

“baby,” you said softly, your tone somewhat stern to grab her attention. a gentle hand made its way to her wrist, pushing the phone from her grasp and into her lap “i think we should talk about the elephant in the room”

“i really don’t…” she muttered, her voice shaking “it’s fine, you know me”

“but caitlin, it’s not” you maneuvered around the bed, turning around and pulling your knees to your chest so you could fully face her. she laid her head back on the headboard, tilting her jaw away from you “you always say that, and i know you’re strong and can handle it. but tonight wasn’t ok and i know you know that”

you noticed the way her muscles tensed, preparing for a conversation she wished she would never have to have. you reached over to her, hand resting on her thigh as you rubbed soothingly. she squeezed her eyes shut and swallowed deeply to hold back tears. but it was no use, she was already hiccuping as sobs racked her body. you felt like your heart was being ripped from your chest. she hardly cried, and when she did, it was never like this.

“it’s whatever,” she couldn’t bring herself to look at you, beating herself up for even being upset in the first place “that’s just how it is, i’m the rookie and-”

“caitlin, stop” you begged, knowing where this was going. she was trying to brush it off once again. you disregarded her thigh, now moving even closer to her to place a hand on her cheek “that’s not just ‘how it is’, you’re allowed to be upset when you get quite literally shoved to the ground. and you’ve got too much on your plate right now, there’s a lot going on”

“i just-i don’t want…” the tears kept coming as she melted into your touch, the weight of her head leaning into your hand “i’m sorry”

“for what, baby?” you ran your thumb across her cheekbone “you have nothing to be sorry about”

“for all of this,” she exhaled, opening her eyes to actually look at you. her eyes slightly red, wet streaks running down her cheeks “for being upset like this, you shouldn’t have to sit here for this, i’m just being dramatic”

“you’re not being dramatic,��� you butted in “got it? you shouldn’t have to feel sorry for being upset about something like this and i’ll have you know-i’m more than happy to be a shoulder to cry on, it’s what i’m here for. you can be respectful and reserved on the court and to the press, but you should never apologize for coming home and being vulnerable. especially with me”

a wave of silence washed over the room, caitlin’s exasperated sniffles being the only sound. she took a deep breath before continuing, gaze flickering down to her hands that were now fidgeting in her lap.

“i hate it so much,” she said, tears now only coming down harder “it was fine at first, but…but it’s just too much, i can’t”

“hey hey hey, it’s ok” you closed any distance between the two of you, wrapping your arms around her and bringing her in your chest. she instantly buried her head underneath your chin, allowing you to run your fingers through her hair and rub her back comfortingly “i know, baby it’s gonna be ok”

“i thought i could handle it, you know?” her voice was small, strained even. the collar of your shirt now damp, her lengthy fingers grabbing desperately at your sides for comfort “but it’s hard to process it all…like sure, being the rookie’s hard, but…but for some reason it’s just way more difficult than i imagined. and getting shoved around sucks, but it’s not even that. i don’t know how to explain it…im just so-so frustrated”

you listened attentively, giving your two cents when it was needed, humming in agreement as she ranted. you let her get it all out, hoping that this would help take some of the weight of her chest. her stubbornness to talk about things like this caused her a great deal of pain in the end, and you’d do anything in your power (even if it were sitting here like this all night) to ease her worries. you couldn’t describe how proud of her you were, grateful that she was trusting you enough to tell you how she truly felt.

“i think i’m just so overwhelmed with everything…with press, with all these expectations, with games…all of it has just been hammering down on me and it’s really fucked me up” she finished, taking a gasp of air after she poured her entire heart out to you.

“i get it, babe” you concurred “being new is hard and i can’t even imagine how much pressure you’ve been putting on yourself over this past year. and you know i don’t know much about the game and all that, but…but what i can say is, is that you aren’t alone. you have so many people who love you and support and are here for whenever you have days like this. neither me, your friends and teammates, your family, or even your fans expect you to walk out of the season like it was nothing. this is supposed to be hard and you’re supposed to have emotions like this. i love you more than anything and i need you to know that i’m here for you through all of this, alright?”

she sat up from being curled into your embrace for what felt like hours. her tears were now mostly dry, although her nose was still a light shade of pink from the congestion. another exasperated breath tumbled from her lips as she urgently grabbed both sides of your face, leaning into you. her lips met with yours in haste. she kissed you deeply, a small whimper emitting from her throat.

“i genuinely don’t know what i’d do without you,” she said, resting her forehead on yours, your hands cupping hers as they stayed firm to your face “you always know what to say, thank you for listening and being there for me”

you laughed, grinning as you looked into her gorgeous eyes “anytime, anywhere, no matter what. i’m so proud of you babe”

after a few more words were passed between the two of you, it was decided that you both were in dire need of some rest. caitlin was tired enough as it is, coming home and letting all of her emotions go had to have been even more exhausting. getting under the covers, caitlin moved down the bed so that she could rest her head just above your stomach, the sound of your heartbeat easing her stress.

“i love you so much” she yawned, fingers snaking underneath your shirt to run along your soft skin.

“i love you too, cait” you sighed, finally letting sleep take over your body.

[annebaby]

the bachelorette

hello everyone! i decided to go ahead and post this. there will be a part two, not entirely sure when that will be out!

i am so thankful for all the new followers and the amount of likes on my recent work. thank you!!!

divider from here!

warnings: cheating, questionable sexuality???, kissing, grinding

the music boomed through the speakers of the honky tonk in downtown nashville. the strobe lights danced all across the floor, tracing the dips and curves of my own body. the smell of whiskey and leather filled my nose, setting the atmosphere for a perfect, man-free night.

i was celebrating my bachelorette party this weekend. my friends only insisted that we get drunk, go dance, and dress slutty like we were 19 years old again. i had to oblige - they wouldn’t take no for an answer. they picked out my too-revealing dress, a strappy silver material that barely held me in. my hair was pinned up in a bun, loose strands brushing across the skin of my face. 

for the first time in a long time, i felt hot. i felt desirable and happy. i felt free. 

its not that my fiancé, will was bad. he was great, perfect even. he treated me well enough, made me feel pretty, and he had a pretty good sex drive. there was nothing to dislike. i put on a happy face for long enough to fool everyone, but deep down i was not happy. 

i wanted more. much more. i wanted someone who needed me like i was their only option. i wanted someone to make me feel like a princess. someone who -

“hey, Y/N! you okay?” 

i heard my friend, maddie yelling over the music for me, quickly snapping me out of my thoughts. i’m glad she did, or else i’d start ruining my own party. 

i walked over to her, joining her on the dance floor. i put my drink cup in the air, smiling proudly. i’m not sure what noise left my drunken mouth, but it was a noise full of faux joy and happiness. it was good enough to fool my friends though. a fake smile and chug of my now-empty cup was all they needed to be fooled. 

i dropped the cup on the ground, it quickly being crushed by someone’s foot in front of me. i looked up, making eye contact with a blonde-haired, blue-eyed, girl. she has to be at least 6’0. she was towering over me, slowly creeping closer into my personal space. 

“hi,” she breathed. 

i seemed to pause my movements, starting intently at the woman now in front of me. she was gorgeous. her facial features worked together in perfect harmony, her teeth as perfect as teeth could be. her skin was glowing, freckles proudly scattered across her face. 

“hey.”

that was all i could say. i was so shell-shocked, nothing crossed my mind but her. 

i hadn’t felt like this in awhile. my first time meeting will wasn’t even this exciting. i don’t really remember the first time we met, actually. 

i should probably get on that, i need to get my vows finished soon. 

“i noticed you look a little out of it. you okay?” the blonde asked, smiling. 

wow, someone actually noticed! 

“yeah, i-im fine. but thanks for noticing…” i left the sentence open-ended, hoping for her name or any sort of information about her. 

“oh, its kate,” she responded, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. 

“kate,” i mutter to myself. unfortunately, now was when my alcohol started to really hit. 

“kate…” i repeated. she looked at me and laughed, looking down at her feet. 

“i’m Y/N,” i responded. she looked back at my face, smiling gently.

“so listen,Y/N,  i was wondering if you’d join me out there?” she asked. i stared at her blankly, dumbfounded. 

i didn’t respond as i continued staring at her. 

“my teammates over there,” she pointed to a group of girls all on the other side of the bar. “my teammates begged me to come talk to you. you’re stunning.”

if my mouth wasn’t already open, it definitely was now. i froze for a second, truly contemplating what to do. i could innocently dance with this gorgeous girl (who has now managed to make me feel things i haven’t felt in a long time), or i could tell her why i was here and refuse to dance. 

my drunken boldness took over, my hands pushing her to the dance floor as i grinned at her. my hands wrapped loosely around the back of her neck, her hands finding my hips and pulling me closer. i swayed back forth with the music, inching closer until we were pressed against each other. 

i don’t know what it was, but she was so addicting. her touch caused burning sensations all over my body, her smile digging into my chest. it was almost painful. will never made me feel like this. he never made me feel anything but content, fine. 

i looked around for my friends, hoping they wouldn’t see this and get suspicious. they knew i didn’t like girls, right? 

did i like girls? 

i’d been wondering for awhile, assuming it could be the reason why i felt nothing for will. i never felt anything for any boy, at that matter. i liked the way girls’ smiled, i liked that we were the same, i wanted to try a girl. 

luckily, no one was to be seen as i scanned the room. i let myself be free as the bass sounded, her thigh finding its way between my legs. it caught me off guard, but sent shivers down my spine nonetheless. kate was still smiling, occasionally looking between us and watching me move on her. her lip went between her teeth every now and then. 

i had to take her home. i had to. i knew i shouldn’t ;the whole reason of this trip was to celebrate my “love” for someone else. 

i stared up at her, hoping she would ask the question so i didn’t have to. when she stayed silent, i twirled the ends of her hair in my fingers while looking around for quick scan one last time. 

not seeing any of my friends, i leaned in and pressed my lips against hers, all my thoughts of will leaving my brain. she opened her mouth into mine, her hands leaving my hips and cupping my face instead. i felt her tongue gently enter my mouth, chills engulfing my body. 

i kissed her back, loving the feeling. this is what i wanted, this is what i needed. 

she pulled away, scanning my face. i was out of breath, my mouth slightly open in shock over what i just did. 

“come home with me, please,” kate breathlessly says. 

her hands hold onto my arms, silently pleading for me to come with her. i knew nothing about her, but something felt so right. i’d be a fool to say no. my thumbs stroked the roughness of her hands, smiling and looking at them. 

“is it worth it?” i ask, slightly teasing. 

she smirked, licking her lips before saying, “i’ll make it worth it.”

[katemoneymartinsgf]

Paige Bueckers x Grieving Reader

— — — — —

a/n: what an intresting month this is. missed you guys. this is rushed and not proof read. enjoy

—————

The highway stretched out in front of you, the faint glow of headlights reflecting off the after-rain pavement. You hadn’t bothered changing out of your practice clothes—there wasn’t any point. The damp scent of chlorine still clung to your skin, and the sharp sting of it in your eyes mixed with the tears you tried to blink away.

It wasn’t just a bad practice. It was everything—school, work, and the constant weight of this month pressing down on you like you were slowly being buried alive. A year. One year without her, and somehow it didn’t feel any less raw.

You scrubbed at your eyes, but it didn’t help. The chlorine, the tears—it all burned the same. You could still hear your coach’s voice, the criticism ringing in your ears, but that wasn’t what had pushed you over the edge. It was the looks from your teammates, the cautious, sidelong glances, like they were afraid to say the wrong thing. They all acted like you were on the verge of breaking, like one wrong word would be enough to send you spiraling. And maybe you were.

But that didn’t make it easier. It didn’t make it less infuriating. If anything, their pity—the eggshells they walked on around you—made everything worse. You gripped the steering wheel harder, trying to steady your breathing, but the anger simmering inside you wouldn’t settle.

Everyone expected you to fall apart. And they were waiting for it. Every word, every interaction felt like they were tiptoeing around the inevitable. But they didn’t understand. You weren’t fragile, and you didn’t want their sympathy. You just wanted... her.

The landmarks on the drive blurred by as your chest tightened, the familiar ache spreading. The cemetery was up ahead, the place you’d avoided for the past year because facing it felt impossible. But there was no avoiding it today. No avoiding the reminder that the one person who understood—who always knew what to say—was gone.

The lump in your throat swelled again, and this time, you didn’t try to fight it. You were too tired of pretending everything was fine. Too tired of holding it all in. As you wiped your face with the back of your hand, the tears fell faster, mixing with the chlorine, and for a moment, it all blurred together—the grief, the anger, the exhaustion. You blinked against the burn and kept driving.

The car slowed as you turned into the familiar entrance, the gravel crunching under your tires louder than it should have been in the stillness of the evening. The sky had turned a bruised shade of gray, the clouds heavy with the promise of rain, but you barely noticed. Everything outside felt muted—like the world was distant, while the storm inside you raged on.

You pulled up to the far corner of the cemetery, parking beneath the old oak tree that stood like a silent sentinel over her grave. For a moment, you just sat there, hands still gripping the wheel, the engine ticking softly as it cooled. You didn’t want to move. Didn’t want to face what you’d been avoiding for months. But you knew you couldn’t keep running.

With a deep breath that felt like it caught halfway up your throat, you turned off the car and stepped out. The air was cooler than you expected, the wind carrying the faint scent of rain and freshly cut grass. You stuffed your hands in your jacket pockets as you started walking, your legs heavy like they didn’t belong to you.

There it was—her headstone, the one you hadn’t visited since the funeral. It felt surreal, seeing her name carved in stone, like a part of you was still waiting for her to call, to text, to be standing there at practice with that knowing look she always gave you.

You stopped a few feet away, unsure of what to do or what to say. The anger, the frustration, the grief—it all came crashing back in one suffocating wave. How could she be gone? How had it been a year already? The lump in your throat returned, and this time you couldn’t hold back the sob that escaped.

You dropped to your knees, the grass cold and damp beneath you. It wasn’t fair. None of this was fair. She should be here. She should be the one telling you to keep it together, the one who always knew what you needed before you even said it.

You wiped at your eyes again, but it was no use. The tears kept coming, and the chlorine still stung, and the world felt so heavy it was a wonder you could breathe at all.

You didn’t know how long you’d been sitting there. Time didn’t seem to exist anymore—just the silence, the cold, and the weight of everything you’d been carrying. Your eyes burned, but you couldn’t stop the tears from falling, each one sliding down your face as you stared at the headstone in front of you.

There were no thoughts, no words left. Just the steady stream of tears, falling for her, for everything you’d lost. It was like your body was grieving for you, crying out what your mind couldn’t process anymore.

You didn’t hear the soft footsteps behind you. It wasn’t until a warm presence settled next to you, the faint rustle of a blanket being draped over your shoulders, that you even realized Paige was there. She didn’t say anything at first. She never did in moments like this. Just her quiet, steady comfort, the way she was always there, letting you have the space you needed.

A hoodie appeared in your lap, and when you glanced up, you saw she had a few snacks in her hand too—your favorites. The simple gesture almost made you laugh, but the lump in your throat was too big. You wiped at your face again, trying to compose yourself.

“I’m fine,” you whispered, your voice rough from the crying. “It’s all good... I just need a second.” It was the same thing you always said after nights like this, when you’d cry in her arms and then pull yourself back together like nothing had happened. Paige didn’t push; she never did.

But this time, it wasn’t enough. You knew it wasn’t enough. Something about sitting here, staring at the cold stone where her name was etched, made the truth impossible to hold in any longer.

“I’m not fine P.” The words came out shakier than you wanted, barely above a whisper, but once they were out, you couldn’t stop. “I’m not fine at all.”

She shifted beside you, her quiet presence grounding you as you tried to breathe through the sobs building in your chest. “It’s been so hard without her,” you choked out, your hands trembling as they gripped the edge of the blanket. “Nobody understands… nobody knows what it was like to lose her because they didn’t… they didn’t know her like I did. I know it’s selfish to say but they didn’t”

Paige didn’t say anything, but you felt her hand gently slide over yours, her thumb brushing against your knuckles in that soothing way she always did.

“She was everything,” you continued, your voice breaking now. “I don’t know how to be a real person without her. It’s like… I’m not me anymore. I haven’t been doing good in school , not even in polo—” You shook your head, trying to swallow the wave of emotion rising in your chest. “I haven’t been good this year. I keep trying to play for her, but getting into the pool every day without her there… it hurts. I feel like I’m letting her down because I’m not as good, but I don’t know how to do it without her. I just feel… empty.”

You broke then, the sobs tearing through you as you buried your face in your hands. Paige pulled you closer, her arms wrapping around you, and for the first time, you let yourself fall apart completely. No more holding back, no more pretending. Just raw, aching grief pouring out of you.

She held you tightly as your body trembled against her, her arms wrapped around you like a shield from the world. She didn’t rush you, didn’t try to pull you out of the wave of emotions crashing over you. She was just there—steady, warm, and patient, like always.

When your sobs began to quiet and your breathing slowed, she shifted slightly, just enough to lean back and look at you. Her hands gently brushed the hair away from your tear-streaked face. “Talk to me,” she whispered softly. “Tell me about her . I want to know more… how she was different. What made her so special to you baby”

Her voice was calm, careful—never pressing, but just enough to let you know she wanted to listen, wanted to understand. You had been so closed off for so long when it came to her. Paige had seen you break down before, but you rarely let her into the deeper parts of that grief.

For a long moment, you couldn’t find the words. Your mind raced with memories, so many moments that felt too precious to even describe. But you owed it to her—to your best friend—to try. And maybe… maybe you owed it to yourself too.

“She was just… everything.” Your voice was shaky, but Paige’s hands, gently stroking your back, helped steady you. “She had this way of making everyone around her feel important, like… you were the only one in the room that mattered. But she never needed the attention herself. She just… gave.”

Tears brimmed in your eyes again, but this time, they felt different. They weren’t just tears of grief—they were tears of gratitude too, for the memories you held so dear. “I remember the way she always encouraged me. No matter how bad my practice was, she’d be right there, cheering me on, telling me how much she believed in me. It made everything else fade away. And now…” Your voice faltered again, but you pressed on, desperate to share this part of her with Paige.

“She would have loved you,” you said suddenly, the words spilling out like a revelation. “She would have thought you were the coolest person ever. She would have been so proud of me for being with you.”

Paige’s expression softened, and you saw something flicker in her eyes—something deep, something understanding. “I’m eternally indebted to her, then,” she replied, her voice steady. “For making you who you are. For helping me fall in love with you.”

The weight of those words hung between you like a bridge, connecting the past and present, your shared grief and your shared love. You took a shaky breath, trying to gather your emotions.

“Paige, I’m scared,” you admitted, your voice barely above a whisper. “I feel broken. Like I’m not whole anymore. How do I live without her?”

Paige squeezed your hands, her eyes locking onto yours with a fierce intensity. “You’re not broken,” she said firmly, her voice low and soothing. “You’re grieving. It’s okay to feel that way. But you’re not alone. You have me. And I’m not going anywhere.”

You nodded slowly, feeling the truth in her words, even if the path ahead felt daunting. “It just hurts so much.”

“I know baby” She leaned closer, her forehead resting against yours. “But you don’t have to carry it alone. You can share it with me, we’ll find a way to carry her memory with us.”

You let the warmth of her words seep in, wrapping around your heart like a comforting embrace. For the first time in a long while, you felt a flicker of hope, a glimpse of light breaking through the darkness that had felt so all-consuming.

“I don’t want to forget her,” you whispered, the tears still lingering in your eyes. “I want to keep her memory alive, but I don’t know how.”

“By talking about her, like you just did,” Paige said softly. “By remembering the good times, the way she made you feel, and how she shaped who you are. You can keep that part of her with you forever.”

The sky above began to darken, and a light drizzle started, but you didn’t mind. The cool rain felt refreshing, a cleansing reminder that even in the midst of grief, there could be healing. You felt her shift beside you, and before you could fully register what was happening, she leaned in, pressing her lips softly against yours.

The kiss was gentle at first, almost tentative, but it held a depth of feeling that resonated deep within you. It was a promise—a vow that no matter how heavy the grief felt, you weren’t alone. You pulled back, breathless, and couldn’t help but let out a shaky laugh, your heart swelling with a mix of emotions.

“Wow,” you said, a teasing smile breaking through the remnants of your tears. “What was that for?”

“Just wanted to remind you,” Paige replied, her eyes sparkling, “that it’s okay to feel everything. And that I’m here, no matter what.”

You smiled back, warmth flooding your chest. “Okay, good, because I’m not really sure how to be a person without her. And I’m still figuring that out.”

Paige chuckled lightly, her fingers brushing against your cheek. “Well, we’ll figure it out together. But first, how about we grab those snacks I brought? I’m pretty sure I have your favorite.”

You nodded, feeling lighter than you had in what felt like ages. As you stood up, you let the blanket slip from your shoulders, a sense of renewal washing over you. The sky might still be dark, but you could see a flicker of light breaking through, just enough to guide you forward.

And for the first time in a long time, you felt like you could breathe again.

As the drizzle began to fall in earnest, you and Paige shared a quiet moment, gazing out at the sky. You felt an unspoken understanding between you, a bond forged in shared grief and love. And just as you were about to turn back to the car, a sudden thought crossed your mind, prompting a mischievous grin.

“Paige,” you said, laughter dancing in your voice, “are you sure those snacks are worth braving the rain for?”

She rolled her eyes playfully, smirking back at you. “rain never stopped me baby.” she said with a cockiness that was soon erased by the sound of thunder and her sprinting back to your side

you burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the cemetery, mingling with the sound of the rain as you led her back to the car.

“i think you being afraid of thunder is the silliest thing” you teased squeezing her hand.

“i’m literally not, everyone gets startled by a loud noise hello.” “yeah well not everyone runs away like that” you say bringing your hands up and planting a kiss to hers. Hand in hand you walked back to the car, feeling lighter, and for the first time in a long while, ready to face whatever came next.

—-

[lizheartsyou]

need her in ways this app can’t explain

[captainmartin20]

they’re cuteeee omg

[gay-ratcore]

I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING ABOUT THIS HERE. PLEASE BE SAFE AND FIGHT BACK.

Any trans kids who need to seek asylum - come to Seattle if you can. We've got your back. Be careful out there.

[catrocketship]

We wrapped up our latest mural this morning! Pride Corner for Capital City Pride, E 5th and Grand in Des Moines, Iowa

[rvxen]

i don't usually do fanart but Lil Nas X and Orville Peck are a couple of heroes of mine and when i got it into my head to do this, i knew it needed to be done by the end of Pride. Haven't gotten to the colors yet but will someday.

Anyway, enjoy some open range love, folks!

[jennhoney]

[echo-echo31]

cooper x agender from Chains and Ribbons

requested by Iowa anon for Pride Month Moodboards

[siriuslyapuff]

Hi! Could you do a Caitlin Clark one where we surprise her at one of the Fever Games?

hi! yes ofc! sorry it’s taken me a while to post this! ive been swamped with essays for my summer classes :( i chose to do the fever game against dc where cait had one of her best games of the season! i figured it was fitting if y/n surprised her and she saw her during the first quarter and started dedicating the game to her and it helped her make her shots! i also decided to make y/n a singer who’s touring, which is why she can’t make all of cc’s games!

dc surprise c.clark x reader

caitlin clark x reader!

summary: you're on tour for festival season (its giving chappell roan) and you haven't been able to make it to one of caitlin's games for a while. you finally are able to make it to one and come to DC to surprise her!

!𝑨𝑩𝑩𝒀 𝑺𝑷𝑬𝑨𝑲𝑺¡

okay i love how this started but idk how i feel abt the ending bc i kind of rushed it but its okay

first cc fic hehehe

𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈: the use of y/n?

The last two months have been crazy for you. The festival season had begun, which meant you were on the road more often than not, touring all over the states, playing show after show with no breaks. It made it impossible to take any time off for yourself, making it incredibly hard to find the time to watch your girlfriend play her first few games as a pro. 

You’d caught a break for her very first game, spending the week before with her while she finished up training camp and supported her through the loss of her first game pre-season, and their loss against Connecticut. But you’d only made it to a few others, including the game in Las Vegas as you’d wanted to see her and Kate play. But festivals almost every other weekend, and the process of recording your new album made it hard. 

Caitlin understood she knew what she’d signed up for when she asked you to be her girlfriend two years ago. It didn’t make it easier, but she understood. You had a responsibility to your fans and to your label just as she had a responsibility for her team and the league. 

The two of you had been inseparable while still in school, you taking part-time classes while juggling your rising stardom, Cait constantly at games or practice, but you lived together, and that made it easier. Right now, Caitlin lived in Indiana, and you lived in hotel rooms, scarcely able to make it back to her apartment. 

Finally, there was a break in your schedule, coming only two days before you were set to perform at Gov Ball in New York. Caitlin would be in DC for a game, you’d decided to make the trip out there as it was only a few hours from the city and you could stay a few days there with her. You hadn’t told Cait your plan but you’d texted some of her teammates and Katie Lou pulled through, her family had spots courtside as her sister played for the Mystics and they had a seat for you and a few of your friends. All you had to do was let your management know about your little detour, but it wouldn’t be a huge deal because of the publicity you’d get at the game. 

The public knew you and Cait were friends, and some people suspected you were more, and you were very open with your sexuality. But, Caitlin was more reserved, she wanted to keep your relationship more private, to try and keep the vultures off your backs. You’d both seen what the media could do to relationships and valued the health of your relationship over the ability to flaunt each other in public. 

There were also of course the fans who shipped you with Kate. This had caused a bit of tension between you and Caitlin, especially after the Fever game in Vegas, where people pointed out it was one of the only games you’d attended. But Kate put the rumors to rest mentioning how she saw you as a younger sister on one of Jada’s lives. Which was a relief, and Cait was ready to risk it all just to prove to the internet that you were hers. 

Sometimes you wondered how the internet had yet to put all the pieces together, due to all of the songs you’d written about her. It baffled you how many people assumed they were about exes and not about the girl you were with. But Caitlin thought it was hilarious, especially when you dropped your album, and ‘So High School’ wasn’t immediately connected to her. 

Being at this upcoming game for Cait was important to you. The media was ripping her apart and it broke your heart that you were unable to be there and support her. Especially as you were at such a high in your career, she deserved all the love and support from you, the same support she’d given you when you were at your lowest point. 

So you booked a flight to Washington, DC with a promise to your management you wouldn’t blow out your vocal chords screaming at the game, and headed to the airport early the morning of the game. 

—

Everything worked out perfectly, and now you were on your way to DC for the game. Caitlin had texted you that morning letting you know she’d landed at Dulles and was heading over for practice. You’d responded, wishing her good luck tonight and that you’d be watching the game from your New York apartment couch. She of course thought you were flying to New York this morning, and was not suspicious at all that your phone was off for three hours. You just prayed no one had caught wind of you leaving Boston and was waiting at the airport when you landed. The last thing you needed was paparazzi pictures hitting the internet when you were trying to surprise your girlfriend. She had your hashtag notifications on for every website, and it was impossible to get away with any form of surprise because of the media attention you got. 

Thankfully when you touched down and made your way through the airport there were no reporters. You bumped into a couple of fans, taking pictures, but asking them to wait until the next day to post pictures of you in the airport. 

You took an Uber to your hotel, a hat pulled low over your eyes trying to avoid anyone recognizing you. There were a few hours left until the game and you were settling into your hotel as Cait’s name flashed on your phone, with a Facetime request. 

“Hey baby,” she said when you answered, her tired eyes meeting yours. 

“Hey, love.” You smiled, taking in her appearance, her ponytail a little ruffled, and her warm-up shirt soaked with sweat. “Did you just get done with practice?” 

She nods, wiping a hand across her face, “yeah, we’re about to head back to the hotels to get ready for the game before shoot-around.” She pauses, eyes wandering across your face through the screen. “What are you up to?”

“Writing.” You shrug coyly, smirking as her face lit up. 

“About me?” You couldn’t help but laugh at her expression. 

“No, I’m writing about some other six-foot brunette who plays basketball.” Caitlin pouts which makes your stomach clench. She looks so cute when she does that. “Don’t pout at me, baby.” 

She rolls her eyes, smiling again. “You’re watching the game tonight right?” 

You nod, shaking your head as she always double-checked. “Yup, I have my 22 jersey ready and a bottle of wine.” 

“Good,” she grins, “every shot is for you, baby.” 

—

The line to get into the stadium wrapped around the building, reminding you of the pictures you’d seen of Eras Tour queues. Sometimes you were immensely glad that you were able to cut the line. 

You’d texted Caitlin’s parents, meeting up with them so you all could head over to the game together. The three of you were able to cut in line, going through the family entrance, and mingling with people before finding your seats. 

Deciding to wear a hat to the game had become a good idea, shielding yourself from prying eyes and the eyes of your girlfriend, not wanting to distract her before the game. It always went better for her if she found you in the crowd naturally, almost as if your presence lit a fire in her. 

And lit a fire it did. Only two minutes into the game Cait spotted you. Her eyes zeroed in on your shoes first, waiting to check the ball right before you. They traveled upwards, meeting your own, a smirk across your lips. Her jaw dropped, and she quickly recovered as you winked cheekily at her. 

“What the fuck,” she mouthed at you. 

“Surprise,” You mouthed back, grinning. Her parents laughed, sitting beside you. 

It was as if a switch had flipped. She started shooting every three, making almost every single one of them. You were on your feet, cheering for her every time she made a bucket, just like you had in college. 

Caitlin was on fire, and everyone noticed, trying to figure out what had caused this winning streak. The camera panned along courtside as the half approached, the media team obviously noticing Cait’s eyes on your section every time she landed another shot. 

You, Brent, and Anne smiled and waved for the camera as it hovered in front of you. All three of you glanced up, seeing yourselves on the jumbotron, your name and “Caitlin Clark’s Parents” popping up under your faces. The camera stayed there for a while, the three of you trying to maintain smiles as if became slightly awkward, finally when they moved on your eyes found Cait’s and she rolled her own, exasperation showing through. 

Both of you knew this would come with tons of speculation, but you weren’t upset over it. As long as the two of you were happy, nothing would come between you, even the nosey media. 

—

As soon as the game was over you were ushered to the tunnel, following behind the players yelling in excitement over the win against DC. At an away game too. You smiled, watching Cait hug Katie Lou, and Erica. Her eyes began to travel around the room, looking for someone, looking for you. When your eyes connected, she ducked out from under her teammate's arms, sprinting towards you. 

You collided, her arms catching you at the top of your thighs as you jumped into the air. She spun you around, a wide smile across her lips. 

“I can’t believe you’re here!” The sound of her voice sent a wave of warmth throughout your body, having only heard it through the phone for the last month. 

“I couldn’t wait any longer,” you whispered into her neck as she set you down. “I missed you so much, Caity.” 

“You have no idea how much I’ve missed you, baby.” Caitlin pulls you even closer, as if trying to make sure you’re real, and actually in her arms. “Holy shit, I literally cannot believe I’m holding you right now.” 

“Believe it, baby, I’m here for another day.” 

Caitlin’s face lit up. “We have all night and all day together?” 

You nod, eyes wandering across her face, taking in her features, trying to ignore the pang in your heart at the bags under her eyes. “I cleared it with Christie. I’m traveling with you guys to Indiana tomorrow and flying out the morning after.” 

Caitlin lunged forward, connecting her lips to yours. You smiled against hers, hands finding their way to her hair. The whistles of her teammates in the background made the two of you pull apart, breathless. She pressed another kiss to your lips quickly before turning around to face her team and shooting them a look of irritation. 

“Let's get out of here,” she laces her fingers with yours, tugging you in the opposite direction of the locker room. 

“Wait but don’t you have to-” 

“Nope.” The two of you weave your way through the mass of people, heads down, quickly making your way toward the exit. “If Christie knows you’re here, she’ll be fine missing me for post-game.” 

“But the media?” She grins at you crookedly. 

“I’m not on the schedule for once.” Caitlin leans forward quickly, pressing her lips on your temple. “Now come on, we have a lot of time to make up for and only one night to do it.” 

[angelx1992]

[thistle-and-bee-press]

From the LGBTQ Iowa Archives and Library, a Queer archives, library and community center, located in Iowa!

Help support the work of the LGBTQ Iowa Archives & Library by becoming a Friend of LIAL. With an annual or monthly donation, you will help support our free programming, archival endeavors, and our library full of trans and queer books that cannot be banned by the state legislature. As a trans and queer volunteer-run organization, LIAL depends on community support to continue our mission of preserving and sharing Iowa's LGBTQ history.

If you become a Friend of LIAL before February 15th, you will also receive a handmade notebook by India Johnson!

Learn more about us here:

Join or donate here! https://donorbox.org/friends-of-lial