The return from the Olympic break was a glittering occasion for the Indiana Fever. The star-studded lineup graced Gainbridge Fieldhouse, with rookie Caitlin Clark stealing the show in her fitted cropped suit. However, her teammate Katie Lou Samuelson also managed to turn a few heads. That said, the spotlight on her wasn’t exclusive. In fact, a little star shone brighter than any, delighting the entire Fever crew.

A total of 17,274 people turned up to witness a feisty encounter featuring the Indiana Fever and the Phoenix Mercury, which the hosts eventually won. But before that, the Fever’s No. 33 introduced an adorable twist. She was accompanied by her 2-year-old daughter, Aliya, during the pre-game warm-up sessions.

The beauty of this moment was compelling enough to be captured, which the 6-ft-3 forward later delighted in sharing on her official Instagram account. Following this, she received an outpouring of love from not only her teammates but also her peers, including a special former Seattle Storm teammate.

Caitlin Clark and more go berserk over Katie Lou Samuelson’s daughter

It seems like the Indiana Fever is overloaded with cuteness. While Caitlin Clark is adored by her fans, the rookie’s veteran mermaid teammate‘s daughter is nothing short of adorable either. Not only did she grab everyone’s attention before the game, but she continued to do so after the win as well. First to comment on her thoughts was the elite babysitter, Caitlin Clark, who made “😍😍😍😍” on Aliya’s post. Clearly, someone is smitten by the baby.

Other teammates, also at a loss for words, shared their feelings. Lexie Hull went with, “🥹🥹😍” while NaLyssa Smith added, “🥹😍.” We can all agree on how adorable Aliya looks while trying stretches with her mother. Katie Lou Samuelson’s former teammate and Seattle Storm legend Sue Bird also gave some love to the pair, commenting, “🥹🥹🥹.” 

WNBA stars were also drawn to the cute magnet. Mother of two, Dearica Hamby, commented, “Omg🥹😍.” Dallas Wings guard Kalani Brown also took a moment to shower Aliya with some adoration, writing, “cuuute🥰🥰.” Katie Lou Samuelson’s sister, Karlie Samuelson, who plays for the Washington Mystics, also commented, “My favs😍😍😍😍.”

Returning from the break, seeing Aliya must have been a heartwarming sight as the team reunited. It’s also interesting to think about how the 2-year-old was part of the game where the Fever made history in more ways than one. They won a season series over the Phoenix Mercury for the very first time in the franchise’s history. Additionally, Caitlin Clark surpassed Diana Taurasi and joined Michael Jordan and Stephen Curry with her immaculate stat line of 25+ points, 5+ rebounds, and 10+ assists with 70% TS.

Stay tuned for more updates, and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show,” where our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.