Team loyalty runs deep in sports, often shaping a player’s identity long before they ever turn pro. Caitlin Clark has rooted for the Kansas City Chiefs since she was a kid, watching games with her dad and brother in West Des Moines, Iowa.
Caitlin Clark's Polite Jersey Decline Has Kylie Kelce's Seal of Approval
Caitlin Clark’s Polite Jersey Decline Has Kylie Kelce’s Seal of Approval (Screenshot via X/@IPSSchools)
The Indiana Fever star has been spotted at Arrowhead Stadium several times, often sitting near Taylor Swift while cheering for the Chiefs. But her latest NFL appearance put that lifelong loyalty to the test in a way no one saw coming.
Caitlin Clark’s Polite Jersey Decline Has Kylie Kelce’s Seal of Approval
Before the Indianapolis Colts faced the Las Vegas Raiders on October 6, the organization invited Clark and three Fever teammates onto the field at Lucas Oil Stadium to celebrate the team’s run to the 2025 WNBA semifinals.
Each player received a custom Colts jersey with their WNBA number on the back. Clark’s No. 22 jersey matched her iconic Fever number.
Teammates Aari McDonald and Makayla Timpson immediately wore their jerseys for photos. Clark took a different approach.
She smiled, held the jersey up to display her name on the back, and politely declined to wear it. The moment was captured on video and quickly went viral, drawing millions of views as fans analyzed her decision.
Kylie Kelce, wife of retired NFL center Jason Kelce, addressed the moment on her “Not Gonna Lie” podcast. “Speaking of the WNBA, I’ve just been given yet another reason to be a fan of Caitlin Clark,” Kylie said.
She thanked the Colts for their thoughtful gesture of giving her a customized jersey. She said she has seen it happen to her husband many times before.
Kylie also mentioned she fully supported the decision and thought Caitlin handled the situation perfectly.
Kylie’s perspective carries weight given her own reputation as a diehard Philadelphia Eagles fan who has spurned Chiefs colors at games despite her brother-in-law Travis Kelce playing for Kansas City.
“I think that when you are raised a diehard fan of a team, this is the only appropriate response to being given a jersey of another team,” she added.
Clark wore a casual outfit of cropped white tees and baggy jeans instead of the blue jersey. The Colts won 40-6 to improve to 4-1 on the season, while Clark’s loyalty to her childhood team drew some public attention.
NFL Fans React to Caitlin Clark’s Team Loyalty Display
Social media lit up with reactions to Clark’s jersey decision, with fans divided over whether her loyalty was admirable or disrespectful to the Colts’ gesture.
One fanwrote, “I respect Caitlin’s loyalty. Speaking of jerseys, I need to get myself a Caleb Williams jersey before I go to my next Bears game.”
However, not everyone approved of the choice. Another fannoted, “Join us Sophie. CC is great but this may be her greatest blemish on her career. Shame.”
A third observeradded a comparison to Taylor Swift’s relationship with the Kelce family: “T Swift sold us out for our Center’s little brother. Not a real one! Go Birds 🦅”
But Indianapolis fans showed support for the local connection. “Of course everyone was nice!! Indianapolis loves SOPHIE ❤️! Huge fan myself!” a fourth commenterwrote, referencing the warm reception Clark and her teammates received.
Clark’s Fever teammate Sophie Cunningham defended the decision on her “Show Me Something” podcast. “Everyone’s trying to get her to wear something or do something and for her to be like, ‘meh, I’m here but I’m going to represent the Chiefs, baby,'” Cunninghamsaid. “I’m not surprised by it.”
Clark has been transparent about her Chiefs fandom throughout her career. During a 2023 Manningcast appearance, sheexplained the family connection.
“I’ve been a Chiefs fan since I was a young girl. My brother was a Chiefs fan, my dad was a Chiefs fan. I had cousins in Kansas City that were Chiefs fans.” The broadcast even showed a childhood photo of her in Chiefs gear.
For Clark, the choice wasn’t about disrespecting Indianapolis, where she plays her professional basketball.
It was about staying true to the team identity she formed long before becoming a WNBA star. As Kylie Kelce noted, some loyalties don’t bend, even for a photo opportunity.