Caitlin Clark teams up with Make-a-Wish to fulfill the dream of a young fan battling cancer at WNBA game
Caitlin Clark has joined forces with the Make-a-Wish foundation to snag tickets for a huge fan of hers who has cancer for the Indiana Fever’s game against the Las Vegas Aces.
The 22-year-old WNBA star met up with 14-year-old Bailey Lux from Carroll, Iowa, to sign her ball and family’s apparel after the teen had been accommodated to travel to Sin City on a private jet from their hometown of 10,321 people, according to the Indy Star.
Bailey, who’s been a lifelong Hawkeyes fan and previously met Clark while receiving treatment, was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of sarcoma, also known as ‘malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor,’ in September 2022.
She was deemed cancer free in February 2023 and linked up with Clark and her ex-Iowa teammate, Kate Martin, who Bailey also knows well, before her cancer returned in March on the same day that the Hawkeyes were playing in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32.
And despite Bailey attending that game, as well, her condition has deteriorated over the last few months, to the point that she stopped chemotherapy and other forms of treatment.
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Caitlin Clark made Bailey Lux’s dream come true when she met up with her before Fever-Aces
However, Bailey, Martin and Clark keep in touch regularly.
‘She told me recently that, you know, it’s not looking good, and that they’re stopping chemo and other treatments,’ Martin told the Indy Star. ‘So, I asked her for her dad’s phone number and asked if I could help in any sort of way to get them to this game, because I knew Bailey is the biggest fan ever. Like I’ve never met a bigger fan than her. She just got the biggest heart and she’s so great.’
After showing up at the Aces’ T-Mobile Arena, Bailey spoke with head coach Becky Hammon and several players, and received a signed basketball from the team. She attended the Fever’s the following day, got a personalized jersey and another signed basketball, before being accommodated with courtside seats for the game against the Fever.
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Clark (R) and her former Iowa Hawkeyes teammate Kate Martin (L) regularly check up on Bailey
For the contest, Bailey wore a jersey that read ‘Fever 22’ on the front, paying tribute to Clark, and ‘Aces 20’ on the back for Martin.
‘(Bailey’s cancer) is in one of those incurable states where every day we try and make things as special as possible,’ Kraig told the Indy Star while on the verge of tears.
‘And boy, what an experience. These two girls, Caitlin and Kate, have been such great individuals and role models for her, and since it’s started she has been nothing but smiles.’
According to the outlet, Clark and Martin’s plan to fly out the Lux family was done less than a week ago.
