Clark and Bueckers are the present and future of women’s basketball

 

Paige Bueckers is preparing for a big moment as she leads UConn into Friday’s Final Four game against UCLA. It’s her fourth trip to this stage, a remarkable feat that underscores her impact – whenever she’s been healthy, the Huskies have at least made it this far. Now she’s chasing her second national championship appearance and a shot at her first title, which would also be UConn’s first since 2016. Winning it all would be the ultimate send-off to a career that began with a bang, when she was named the Naismith College Player of the Year as a freshman.

A Look Back: Clark on the Bench, Bueckers Up Front

An old video floating around the internet takes us back to her high school days with Team USA, and it’s wild to see how the tables have turned. Caitlin Clark, now a global hoops sensation, came off the bench while Paige Bueckers held down a starting spot. Who would have thought that the reserve would explode into the star she is today?

At just 23 years old, with only one WNBA season under her belt, Clark is already a top-10 player in the pros. Her college days at Iowa were nothing short of historic: she’s the NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer, led the nation in points and assists three times in four years, and then stormed the WNBA with Rookie of the Year honors, setting records with 337 assists in a season and 19 in a single game, and scoring 769 points, the most ever by a rookie. That high school clip feels like a lifetime ago.

I get it-folks may be tired of hearing Caitlin Clark’s name in the same breath, but after Clark’s unreal NCAA run and her splash as the WNBA’s Rookie of the Year, comparing her to a talent like Bueckers feels inevitable. They’re on a collision course to meet again soon, this time as pros, with Bueckers projected as the Dallas Wings’ No. 1 pick in 2025 and Clark already lighting up the league. Mark your calendars for Friday, June 27 – this matchup will be a must-see.

What would be amazing is to see them playing together as starters at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. That’s years away, but the U.S. women’s team has won eight consecutive gold medals since 1996. Both could put women’s basketball on a higher pedestal, thanks to their popularity, charisma and excting type of play. I envision something like the men’s 1992 Dream Team, but on the women’s side, with Clark, Bueckers, Angel Reese, A’ja Wilson, Sabrina Ionescu and even Juju Watkins.

Clark’s Benchmark: A Tough Act to Follow

As we still in the NCAA Tournament I know it’s exhausting to hold every college standout to Caitlin Clark’s standard, but her time at Iowa set the bar sky-high. She averaged 28.4 points, 7.1 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game, piling up 3,951 career points to claim the NCAA scoring crown. She led the Hawkeyes to back-to-back national title games, falling to LSU in 2023 and South Carolina in 2024. Bueckers, who has her sights set on the Final Four game, has faced Clark twice in the NCAA Tournament: a lopsided 92-72 win for UConn in the 2021 Sweet 16 (Bueckers had 18 points, Clark had 21) and a heartbreaking 71-69 lost to Iowa in the 2024 Final Four (Bueckers had 17, Clark again had 21). Their next meeting will light up the WNBA, and you can bet it’ll be standing room only – fingers crossed they both stay in one piece for it.

Believe it or not, the two almost joined forces at UConn. Clark had her sights set on playing for the Huskies, but coach Geno Auriemma had already handed the reins to Bueckers. “I gave Paige my word early on,”Auriemma told reporters last year. Bringing in Clark would have been an overreach, and frankly, it might have diminished one of their lusters-maybe they’d have stepped on each other’s toes. Instead, fate parted them: Bueckers built her legacy at UConn, Clark carved hers at Iowa, and women’s hoops got two incredible stories out of it.

Angel Reese (via X)
Angel Reese is one of the most highly anticipated basketball players in the WNBA right now. Although she has only been playing in the league for one season, she has greatly impacted the sport.

In 2024, Reese made sure her name was known around the league. She earned herself a 2024 All-Star selection while leading the WNBA in rebounding and double-doubles. It was a solid season, no doubt, for the soon-to-be sophomore.

Of course, the former LSU star was one of the NIL earners in the NCAA, and she has continued to grow her fanbase and follow it throughout the first season of her WNBA career. Her most recent appearance now has fans going insane.

Angel Reese Stuns In Court-Side Outfit

Angel Reese (Photo By Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images)
Reese recently appeared at the girls’ McDonalds All-American game. Fans were stunned by her outfit, which included some nice glasses and a stunning fur coat. The comments mostly praised the WNBA star.

“She’s such a baddie ugh,” commented one user.

“her earrings i need dattttt,” begged another.

“She is a real spectacle,” added another.

“Damn she looking like Floyd money Mayweather,” said another.

“Can you still get the Angel Reese special at McDonald’s,” asked one user.

Another simply added, “So pretty.”

After everything is said and done, Reese clearly has numerous fans. Not only do they follow her for her performance on the court, but they also seem to keep a close eye on her off the court. Reese will look to join her Chicago Sky teammates when they take on Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever on May 17.

VIDEO: Some Dude Just Dropped The Cold Hard Truth On Why All Of These NFL Prospects Are “Dating White Women”

Unless this is your first day in America, then you know race relations in this country dominate just everything, and that includes NBA and NFL drafts

 

During the most recent NFL Draft in Detroit, social media was buzzing as athletes showed up to the red carpet event with their girlfriends and family. Many of the incoming NFL rookies were African-American and were spotted with white women, which has become the usual theme for years.

The same thing happens with the NBA Draft.

This year, the discourse on the NFL Draft and NBA Draft has gotten even louder as African-American women openly pondered why so many of the players never have a partner that is the same race as them.

 

 

One guy on TikTok decided to answer that question by revealing that the vast majority of his division-1 friends in college or headed to the league are dating or married to white women and explained why.

He stated that some of them had told him that their white girlfriend looked up to Taylor Swift while their girlfriend looked up to Megan The Stallion. He then states the guy asks how many white women he has seen doing the Megan Thee Stallion challenge as opposed to Black women.

He then dove into another story of a friend who relayed that his Black girlfriend started to request money from him as soon as she found out about his NIL money. She wanted her hair and nails done. He then added that the Black women would be upset if they went to places like Chipotle, and she demanded steak houses.

 

 

New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA Finals (Photo via Twitter)
The WNBA has come a long way, but they still have a ways to go before a ton of people give them the respect they covet.

Not helping matter was an unearthed clip from last year.

In Game 5 of the 2024 WNBA Finals, the New York Liberty defeated the Minnesota Lynx 67-62 in overtime.

Somebody unearthed a short clip from that high-stakes game, and it really shows just how poorly both teams played that night.

The 54-second clip shows several missed shots, with many airballs and multiple turnovers from both the New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx.

 

How social media reacted:

“Looks just like the NBA… terrible!” one fan said.

“Take the best AAU Boys 8th Grade team in the country and the AAU team would score 100 on these ladies! Fact 🤷‍♂️🇺🇸,” a second fan said of the WNBA players.

“Remember last year when ESPN tried to psyop this into being a thing?” one fan asked.

“Women’s basketball has always looked like if it were men playing under water to me,” another fan stated of the league.

One final fan added: “I would rather watch 12 year olds on the playground. More entertaining and better skill.”

New York Liberty Won Game 5 of The WNBA Finals Despite Terrible Showing

PHOENIX, ARIZONA – SEPTEMBER 23: Sabrina Ionescu #20 of the New York Liberty reacts during the second half of the first round WNBA playoffs at Grand Canyon University Arena on September 23, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Mercury defeated the Liberty 83-82. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The New York Liberty won its first championship title after powering through five games, two of which went to overtime.

The team powered to a 67-62 victory over the Minnesota Lynx in Game 5 despite scoring only 10 points in the first quarter and trailing by 12 in the first half.

Overall, the team shot 22 of 72 (30.5%) from the field, including 2 of 23 (8.6%) from behind the arc.

Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu were basically non-existent, scoring a combined 18 points on 5 of 34 shooting.

Ionescu was the worst of the two, shooting 1 of 19 (5.3%) from the field, the worst shooting performance in playoff history.

VIDEO: Some Dude Just Dropped The Cold Hard Truth On Why All Of These NFL Prospects Are “Dating White Women”

Unless this is your first day in America, then you know race relations in this country dominate just everything, and that includes NBA and NFL drafts

 

During the most recent NFL Draft in Detroit, social media was buzzing as athletes showed up to the red carpet event with their girlfriends and family. Many of the incoming NFL rookies were African-American and were spotted with white women, which has become the usual theme for years.

The same thing happens with the NBA Draft.

This year, the discourse on the NFL Draft and NBA Draft has gotten even louder as African-American women openly pondered why so many of the players never have a partner that is the same race as them.

 

 

One guy on TikTok decided to answer that question by revealing that the vast majority of his division-1 friends in college or headed to the league are dating or married to white women and explained why.

He stated that some of them had told him that their white girlfriend looked up to Taylor Swift while their girlfriend looked up to Megan The Stallion. He then states the guy asks how many white women he has seen doing the Megan Thee Stallion challenge as opposed to Black women.

He then dove into another story of a friend who relayed that his Black girlfriend started to request money from him as soon as she found out about his NIL money. She wanted her hair and nails done. He then added that the Black women would be upset if they went to places like Chipotle, and she demanded steak houses.

 

 

Talia Baia (Photos via Instagram)
Florida reporter Talia Baia has apparently become an internet sensation during this year’s NCAA Tournament.

The University of Florida student reporter for ESPN Gainesville is seizing the moment after her locker room interview with Gators guard Bennett Andersen went viral following Florida’s 87-71 Sweet 16 win over Maryland last Thursday in the NCAA Tournament.

On the heels of No. 1 seed Florida’s 87-71 win over No. 4 Maryland in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16, Baia and Andersen shared an eye-catching moment that’s since taken social media by storm.

Following the contest, Baia asked Andersen what it felt like to score during March Madness. “Yeah, it felt amazing,” he replied. “I just ran after the rebound. There’s no reason for me to get back on defense at that point in the game, so I’m just trying to get the rebound.

“I thought that dude was going to jump to try to block it, but he didn’t really jump, so I just laid it in. It was crazy.”

Almost nine million users on X have seen Talia Baia’s video of the interview.

 

Since her explosion, she is now speaking out about her sudden rise to fame.

After going viral over the exchange with Andersen, Baia took to X, posted several articles about the interview, and wrote on X: ‘This is absolute madness’ along with a laughing emoji.

Talia Baia Is Growing An Incredible Fan Base

Talia Baia (Photo via Instagram)
Following Florida’s 87-71 Sweet 16 win over Maryland on Thursday, a quick one-minute interview has propelled Talia Baia into the spotlight.

Baia is a student reporter for the station, studying in Florida’s journalism and communication program.

She also works as a student reporter for ESPN Gainesville and has 31,000 followers on Instagram and X.

Her followers continue to grow with each passing day. The senior at Florida can easily capitalize on this as she gets closer to the end of her college career.

VIDEO: Some Dude Just Dropped The Cold Hard Truth On Why All Of These NFL Prospects Are “Dating White Women”

Unless this is your first day in America, then you know race relations in this country dominate just everything, and that includes NBA and NFL drafts

 

During the most recent NFL Draft in Detroit, social media was buzzing as athletes showed up to the red carpet event with their girlfriends and family. Many of the incoming NFL rookies were African-American and were spotted with white women, which has become the usual theme for years.

The same thing happens with the NBA Draft.

This year, the discourse on the NFL Draft and NBA Draft has gotten even louder as African-American women openly pondered why so many of the players never have a partner that is the same race as them.

 

 

One guy on TikTok decided to answer that question by revealing that the vast majority of his division-1 friends in college or headed to the league are dating or married to white women and explained why.

He stated that some of them had told him that their white girlfriend looked up to Taylor Swift while their girlfriend looked up to Megan The Stallion. He then states the guy asks how many white women he has seen doing the Megan Thee Stallion challenge as opposed to Black women.

He then dove into another story of a friend who relayed that his Black girlfriend started to request money from him as soon as she found out about his NIL money. She wanted her hair and nails done. He then added that the Black women would be upset if they went to places like Chipotle, and she demanded steak houses.

 

 

Cameron Brink Reveals In Interview That She’s Already “Icked” Out By Her Team’s Idea To Hire “Male Practice Players”

Cameron Brink (Photo via Twitter)
Cameron Brink is used to being sought after by men, even though she is engaged to be married, but what she has been reading lately has disgusted her.

Brink didn’t hold back on her “Straight to Cam” podcast, where she revealed her true feelings about the Los Angeles Sparks’ male practice player tryouts.

On March 13, an X post announcing the news that the Los Angeles Sparks would be holding tryouts for male practice players during their upcoming WNBA season went incredibly viral.

As many as 43 million views came across that one post.

There have been plenty of reactions to this post, and even former NBA players weighed in.

Los Angeles Sparks forward Cameron Brink was on the poster alongside Dearica Hamby, Rickea Jackson, and Kelsey Plum.

Brink made it clear that she was icked out by the responses from men.

Cameron Brink: “I guess my confession is I’m really icked out by the potential new practice players.”

Sydel Curry-Lee: “Okay, what? I haven’t seen the post. Can you give me an example?”

Cameron Brink: “It’s basically just like a flyer. It’s like me, Derica, Rekia, and Kelsey. And it’s like male practice players wanted. And usually, we use like USC college guys that also like do it for the women’s team at USC.”

“And all the comments are like, let Cameron Brink back me down, like, or something about Rekia or something about Kelsey. And now I’m just like, preferably they’re gay.”

Sydel Curry-Lee: “No, for real.That’s like, they need to go through a heavy HR training.”

Cameron: “Who are we trusting coming into this gym?“

Sydel Curry-Lee: “But the nerve to just like sit there on their phones and be like, I want to back it up on Cameron.”

Cameron: “You want to back it up on me?”

Sydel Curry-Lee: “No, but like, could you imagine?”

Cameron Brink: “I’m not boxing anyone out… Lynne, our new coach is going to be screaming at me for not rebounding. I’m not boxing out anyone.”

Cameron Brink Is Engaged

Cameron Brink (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Cameron Brink knows she will never stop getting compliments from other men, even though she is soon to be a married woman.

The Los Angeles Sparks star and boyfriend Ben Felter got engaged in Paris.

The WNBA star has solidified herself as a sports, fashion, and lifestyle mogul, and now she is soon to be a wife.

VIDEO: Some Dude Just Dropped The Cold Hard Truth On Why All Of These NFL Prospects Are “Dating White Women”

Unless this is your first day in America, then you know race relations in this country dominate just everything, and that includes NBA and NFL drafts

 

During the most recent NFL Draft in Detroit, social media was buzzing as athletes showed up to the red carpet event with their girlfriends and family. Many of the incoming NFL rookies were African-American and were spotted with white women, which has become the usual theme for years.

The same thing happens with the NBA Draft.

This year, the discourse on the NFL Draft and NBA Draft has gotten even louder as African-American women openly pondered why so many of the players never have a partner that is the same race as them.

 

 

One guy on TikTok decided to answer that question by revealing that the vast majority of his division-1 friends in college or headed to the league are dating or married to white women and explained why.

He stated that some of them had told him that their white girlfriend looked up to Taylor Swift while their girlfriend looked up to Megan The Stallion. He then states the guy asks how many white women he has seen doing the Megan Thee Stallion challenge as opposed to Black women.

He then dove into another story of a friend who relayed that his Black girlfriend started to request money from him as soon as she found out about his NIL money. She wanted her hair and nails done. He then added that the Black women would be upset if they went to places like Chipotle, and she demanded steak houses.

 

 

Caitlin Clark (Photo Credit: Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images)
ESPN analyst Monica McNutt is facing backlash after attributing WNBA star Caitlin Clark’s widespread popularity to her race and Midwestern background. McNutt made the remarks during an interview with the BBC’s Katty Kay, suggesting that Clark’s identity played a role in her national appeal.

“Caitlin represented… a white girl from the middle of America,” McNutt stated. “She represented a whole lot to a lot of people, whether that is truly what she prescribed to or not.”

McNutt’s comments quickly ignited debate, with critics accusing her of fueling “racial hysteria.” Conservative media figures, including OutKick writer Bobby Burack, slammed her remarks. “Is she an idiot (like Kendrick Perkins)?” Burack wrote, comparing her to other ESPN personalities he accused of race-baiting.

Social media users also piled on, with some questioning why ESPN allows such discussions, while others defended McNutt’s take as an honest observation.

Fan Reactions And Media Outrage

Caitlin Clark (Grace Smith/IndyStar-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

 

Many fans rejected McNutt’s theory, arguing that Clark’s talent alone has driven her success.

“White boys wanted to be [Michael Jordan], Kobe [Bryant], LeBron [James],” one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “Idk maybe it’s a skill diff.”

Others accused ESPN of promoting divisive narratives. “When did @ESPN become so woke and racist?” one critic posted.

However, McNutt also found support from those who believe her statement reflected reality. “She’s just stating the truth,” a supporter commented. “We identify with people who look like us.”

Clark has largely stayed out of the controversy but acknowledged racial privilege in an earlier TIME interview. “I want to say I’ve earned every single thing, but as a white person, there is privilege,” she said.

Her remarks didn’t sit well with everyone. Podcast host Megyn Kelly accused Clark of unnecessary “self-flagellation,” criticizing the star for addressing race at all. The debate surrounding Clark’s fame continues, reflecting broader discussions about race, representation, and sports media narratives.

VIDEO: Some Dude Just Dropped The Cold Hard Truth On Why All Of These NFL Prospects Are “Dating White Women”

Unless this is your first day in America, then you know race relations in this country dominate just everything, and that includes NBA and NFL drafts

 

During the most recent NFL Draft in Detroit, social media was buzzing as athletes showed up to the red carpet event with their girlfriends and family. Many of the incoming NFL rookies were African-American and were spotted with white women, which has become the usual theme for years.

The same thing happens with the NBA Draft.

This year, the discourse on the NFL Draft and NBA Draft has gotten even louder as African-American women openly pondered why so many of the players never have a partner that is the same race as them.

 

 

One guy on TikTok decided to answer that question by revealing that the vast majority of his division-1 friends in college or headed to the league are dating or married to white women and explained why.

He stated that some of them had told him that their white girlfriend looked up to Taylor Swift while their girlfriend looked up to Megan The Stallion. He then states the guy asks how many white women he has seen doing the Megan Thee Stallion challenge as opposed to Black women.

He then dove into another story of a friend who relayed that his Black girlfriend started to request money from him as soon as she found out about his NIL money. She wanted her hair and nails done. He then added that the Black women would be upset if they went to places like Chipotle, and she demanded steak houses.

 

 

Angel Reese (Photo via Twitter)
Angel Reese has done a lot of things in her life, and now she can add being dunked over to the list.

The stars were out Monday night at the Sprite Jam dunk contest. One of the players competing was BYU signee and former Five-Star Plus+ prospect AJ Dybantsa.

Chicago Sky star Angel Reese was in attendance and had no clue that she would become part of the show.

Dybansta flew over her before finishing with a one-handed slam. Reese was positioned at the top of the restricted area, standing tall at 6’3.

Dybansta did not clear Angel Reese clearly as he placed his hand on her shoulder as he elevated.

Reese walked away impressed, and her face said it all.

 

Afterward, Reese then seemingly pointed toward the judges, asking them to give the future college basketball star a perfect score of 10.


The dunk earned a perfect “50” score from the judges.

Dybantsa is a name to remember as he played high school basketball at Utah Prep, where he was a Five-Star Plus+ prospect.

The Utah Prep star is the No. 1 overall prospect in the class of 2025 out of high school and is viewed as a potential No. 1 NBA draft pick in 2026. He is expected to be a one-and-done player at BYU.

Angel Reese Wins Unrivaled Championship

Angel Reese (Photo via Jim Rassol/Imagn Images)
Angel Reese won the Unrivaled league’s inaugural championship last month.

The victory also came with a $50,000 bonus.

Reese, who won the college national championship with LSU in 2023, was a part of Rose BC, along with Chelsea Gray, Lexie Hull, Kahleah Cooper, Azura Stevens, and Brittney Sykes.

Reese was named the Defensive Player of the Year in the inaugural season.

VIDEO: Some Dude Just Dropped The Cold Hard Truth On Why All Of These NFL Prospects Are “Dating White Women”

Unless this is your first day in America, then you know race relations in this country dominate just everything, and that includes NBA and NFL drafts

 

During the most recent NFL Draft in Detroit, social media was buzzing as athletes showed up to the red carpet event with their girlfriends and family. Many of the incoming NFL rookies were African-American and were spotted with white women, which has become the usual theme for years.

The same thing happens with the NBA Draft.

This year, the discourse on the NFL Draft and NBA Draft has gotten even louder as African-American women openly pondered why so many of the players never have a partner that is the same race as them.

 

 

One guy on TikTok decided to answer that question by revealing that the vast majority of his division-1 friends in college or headed to the league are dating or married to white women and explained why.

He stated that some of them had told him that their white girlfriend looked up to Taylor Swift while their girlfriend looked up to Megan The Stallion. He then states the guy asks how many white women he has seen doing the Megan Thee Stallion challenge as opposed to Black women.

He then dove into another story of a friend who relayed that his Black girlfriend started to request money from him as soon as she found out about his NIL money. She wanted her hair and nails done. He then added that the Black women would be upset if they went to places like Chipotle, and she demanded steak houses.

 

 

 

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Morgan Wallen’s ‘tension’ and ‘iciness’ with the SNL cast in rehearsals has been revealedCredit: YouTube/SNL

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He starred alongside Mikey Madison and Chloe FinemanCredit: YouTube/SNL
Sources say the move wasn’t just an innocent misstep, but the final beat of a tense week in which both the Up Down hitmaker and the show’s cast maintained a noticeable distance.

Chloe Fineman even appeared to acknowledge the speculation, liking a Deuxmoi Instagram post that suggested Morgan had difficulties behind the scenes.

According to production sources, Morgan’s time on set was marked by a frosty atmosphere.

One told Rob Shuter’s Substack, “Tension backstage, cold shoulders from cast, and zero laughs, Morgan only showed up to sell records — not to make friends.”

It is customary for the musical guest to remain on stage during the farewell segment, engaging with the cast.

However, he exited quickly after offering a brief one-armed hug to host Mikey Madison – thought to be an intentional move.

And, during the closing credits, Kenan Thompson and Ego Nwodim were seen exchanging puzzled glances as Morgan left the stage before the show had fully wrapped.

The insider continued to claim, “Let’s be honest, Morgan didn’t want to be there, and the cast didn’t want him there either.”

“The cast kept their distance. No one went out of their way to talk to him, and he felt it. The vibe was icy, and it never warmed up.”

Another source added, “The cast can be elite and cliquey — and Morgan doesn’t find them funny anyway. He came to promote the album, maybe check a box, and bounce.”
Morgan Wallen announces US tour for upcoming album – but fans are upset he won’t stop in iconic city
Shortly after the episode aired, he appeared to reference his experience in an Instagram Story of his private jet, captioned, “Get me to God’s country.”

Morgan’s relationship with SNL has been fraught since 2020, when he was dropped from a scheduled performance after being seen partying without a mask during the height of COVID-19.

He was invited back two months later, but sources say any goodwill from that second chance has since disappeared.

While this week’s tensions are thought not to be linked to past controversies, Morgan’s 2021 racial slur incident continues to cast a shadow on him.

At the time, he acknowledged his mistake, saying, “I used an unacceptable and inappropriate racial slur that I wish I could take back. There are no excuses to use this type of language, ever.

“I want to sincerely apologise for using the word. I promise to do better.”

However, some cast members remain unwilling to move past it.

One of the sources said, “It wasn’t about cancel culture — it was about chemistry. He knew he wasn’t welcome. And frankly, he didn’t care.”

The Tennessee-native has had a meteoric rise in the last few years and is now one of the biggest stars in country music.

He’s released three studio albums, the latest of which was 2023’s One Thing at a Time.

Morgan’s got another in the pipeline too, with I’m the Problem set for release in May.

He’s picked up numerous awards for his work, including a Country Music Association (CMA) Award, 15 Billboard Music Awards, and multiple Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards.

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He left fans confused following his abrupt stage departureCredit: YouTube/SNL

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Shortly after the episode aired, he appeared to reference his experience in an Instagram StoryCredit: Instagram/morganwallen

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SNL cast member Chloe Fineman liked a Deuxmoi Instagram post that suggested Morgan had difficulties behind the scenesCredit: AP

Chase Stokes and Kelsea Ballerini in Austin in 2023. Photo: Jeff Kravitz/Getty

Chase Stokes is lifting the curtain on how he and girlfriend Kelsea Ballerini keep their relationship strong.

In PEOPLE’s September digital cover story, the Outer Banks actor, 31, reveals that he and the country star, also 31, have a rule of “never going more than three weeks” without seeing each other.

“We don’t BS each other. If we need to make the effort to show up when one’s across the country, we do it,” he says. “The amount of effort that we put into our careers, we should be doubling that in our personal lives. It’s about really putting in effort, and it’s not always easy and it’s not always convenient, but having a big, beautiful life didn’t come from convenience or ease.”

Though they typically split their time between Nashville, where Ballerini has a house, and South Carolina, where Stokes shoots Outer Banks, the two have temporarily set up a home base in Los Angeles. Ballerini is currently coaching her first season of The Voice in Universal City, and Stokes has work commitments around Hollywood.

“That was kind of our thing: Let’s just set up shop versus being on planes, for the boys,” he says, talking about his dog Milo and Ballerini’s dog Dibs (who, Ballerini recently announced, has an inoperable heart cancer). “We wanted to set up a sense of real life out here for a little while.”

After work, their evenings together typically involve cooking — Stokes’s go-to is skirt steak with a homemade chimichurri – and bingeing Lost. If they have to be apart for work, there’s “no Lost if we’re not together,” Stokes says. “We have a very hard line in the sand. We tried a couple nights ago to do the one, two, three, go and hit play from afar, and we just could not figure it out. So we ended up watching Gone Girl.”

Chase Stokes and Kelsea Ballerini in August 2023.Victor Boyko/Variety via Getty Images

The couple is savoring their down time as they gear up for a busy fall. Stokes next stars in the Netflix film Uglies, based on the bestselling dystopian 2005 novel, premiering Sept. 13, and Season 4 of Outer Banks premieres on Oct. 10. He’ll also play a tattoo artist with a fiery temper in The Notebook director Nick Cassavetes’ upcoming romance Marked Men and an army captain in the thriller Valiant One in early 2025.

“There really isn’t anything off-limits,” says Stokes, who also has plans to produce. “I’m making sure that I’m really attacking my career with no restraints.”

As for Ballerini, she’s readying to release a new album, Patterns, on Oct. 25, in addition to coaching The Voice. Stokes calls the album “unbelievable.”

“It is a master class in songwriting,” he says. “To watch her on the back porch writing and see what it is now, it is the most fascinating thing. It’s just further proof that Kelsea Ballerini is a force of nature in music.”

With their careers taking them in different directions, that means Ballerini will sometimes “come and hang out on set with me, or I’ll go into the studio with her,” Stokes says. “Or it’s just sitting in the living room and talking through dreams and aspirations and having a safe space with a partner that believes in you. We really are very fortunate that we have big careers and a big world around us, but we like to keep it very simple and very small.”

Chase Stokes and Kelsea Ballerini in April 2023.Bruce Glikas/Getty

Stokes first met Ballerini after she slid into his DMs in December 2022, four months after she filed for divorce from musician Morgan Evans. At the time, Stokes was shooting a movie out of the country.

“We spent a lot of time texting back and forth, but I think there was definitely an immediate moment of, ‘I really like this girl, and I would like to get to know her better,’” he says. “My mom got remarried later in life, and she always said that as you get older, you understand your values and the things that you like and don’t like.”

When they first introduced their dogs, Stokes admits Ballerini “was a little more nervous than I was.”

“She was like, ‘Are they going to click? Dibs is an only child, and he’s got only child syndrome,’” he recalls. “It took maybe two days for them to really start to coexist. She sent me a video this morning and Dibs and Milo are bobbing and weaving in the pool trying to find the ball that sunk. So they’ve adapted.”

As they look to the future, Stokes says, “It’s really about building a life together.”

“In any relationship, you just have to learn to grow together and embrace change,” he says. “It’s understanding that even at 31, almost 32, I’m still growing. I’m still evolving, and so is she. It’s learning to lead with love and a want to grow together.”

The Voice YouTube; Kelsea Ballerini Instagram

Emotions were running high on Monday’s (March 31) episode of The Voice as Kelsea Ballerini was brought to tears when one of her team member’s performances reminded her of her sick dog.

The country singer first shed tears during rehearsals as she listened to Angie Rey perform Cody Johnson’s “Dirty Cheap.” The song, which is about a farmer not wanting to sell his land, features the lyric, “And over there, under that wide oak tree / Beneath the cross is where my best buddy’s buried…Keep your money ’cause a man can’t leave his dog.”

This is the line that appeared to set Ballerini off, and Rey stopped singing. “I can’t do it with you crying,” Rey said as she also fought back tears.

Ballerini admitted, “I got emotional because my dog is super sick. But that is the thing about country music, is that it does talk about real life and the things that are hard to talk about.”

The “Cowboys Cry Too” singer was moved to tears again when Rey took the stage for the actual performance. “You were just so lovely,” Ballerini told Rey. “And I really appreciated you kind of reigning back a little bit and showing more of that storytelling side of your voice, ’cause that’s a big part of singing country music. I just think you’re amazing.”

Back in August 2024, Ballerini revealed on Instagram that her beloved dog Dibs had been diagnosed with “inoperable cancer in his heart.” She added, “He’s not in pain, and luckily it hasn’t spread further. we’re going to start him on the ‘big’ meds to try to make sure he can have as many comfortable and happy days (weeks, months) left as possible.”

Kelsea Ballerini Instagram

She shared another update in November 2024, with Dibs appearing in the backyard in a TikTok video. Ballerini said he was feeling “pretty well” that day and thanked her fans for their thoughts and prayers.

 

As for Rey, despite the high praise, Ballerini ultimately chose 19-year-old Iris Herrera as the winner of the Knockouts. Ballerini admitted it was a tough decision, but she felt Herrera’s showmanship and emotion gave her the edge.

The journey isn’t over for Rey, though, as fellow coach Michael Bublé swooped in with his Steal, adding Rey to his team. Ballerini was ecstatic to see Rey remain in the competition, saying, “I never loved Michael Bublé more than him stealing Angie.”