Feelin' 22, Caitlin Clark + Nika Muhl

Final Four

April 5th 2024
Iowa vs UCONN
(FINAL FOUR)

Desi stood on the sidelines as she watched the Iowa women's basketball team hard at practice for the game today. She knew that this was a very big deal for them, it was for her too. Not only because it was the final four, but it was also against UConn, which means she would be able to see her friends and Nika Mühl. The girls had been begging Desi to give them some hints on what UConn had in store, but Desi would always tell them that they would have to win fair in square.

Although she was exhausted, between all the traveling and trying to keep up with her school work, Desi couldn't be more pumped for tonight's game. She knew it would be a good one, both teams had been "Working their ass off" as Nika liked to say. She wasn't looking forward to either of them losing though, she wished both teams could win.

For the past few months, everything had been going fine. The whole Iowa team knew about Desi and Nika's relationship at this point, which definitely made the girl nervous that it could get back to Paige. Some girls were upset about how everything went down, others were just happy that the two girls could stand to be in the same room together. Even though things were super awkward between them at first, both Desi and Caitlin have grown to enjoy each other's friendship. There was occasional flirting, but nothing serious. It secretly made Desi feel lucky that she would still accept her into her life after everything that she had done. Desi hadn't really spoken to Paige who would call and text regularly, she didn't know what to say, how to face her. Every so often the blonde would send a uncomfoting text about Caitlin which would make Desi respond and tell her nothing was going on.

That's another reason why she was nervous about the game. The tension that had been building between the two girls had been intense. Paige made sure to let Caitlin know she didn't like her, and Caitlin did the same. They were constantly subbing each other on social media and in interviews in ways that no one else could tell but those close to them. The passive-aggressive posts and cryptic messages were a daily occurrence, and it was clear that the rivalry was personal and deep-rooted.

Desi paused her jogging up and down the court, trying to capture pictures and videos of the girls, to check her phone. She had a habit of documenting the team's progress for social media, but today her mind was elsewhere. The constant notifications from social media, filled with subtle jabs and indirect comments between Paige and Caitlin, only added to her anxiety. She knew that any misstep, any wrong move, could escalate the already volatile situation. Desi sighed, feeling the weight of the tension as she checked the UConn group chat.

Family 💙

Lils 🩷
are you hawk-asses
ready to lose today??
2:13pm

Niks <3
Yeah we've been working
our ass off
2:14pm

P boogers 👩🏽‍❤️‍💋‍👩🏼
I'm so excited to see
you and kick some ass
2:15pm

Li
Yeah we not leaving
without that dub
2:15pm

Lils 🩷
I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE
YOU AND HUG YOU
2:16pm

Lils 🩷
Then I crush you 👊🏻
2:16pm

Aub-dawg 🐶
Without a doubt we
getting the win
2:17pm

Desi
Oh please... we got this shit in
the bag, light work for sure..
2:20pm

Desi
(Secretly rooting for you guys)
2:20pm