As Duke freshman phenom Cameron Boozer leads the Blue Devils into a high-stakes Sweet 16 matchup against St. John’s, fans have discovered a house divided situation off the court. It turns out that Boozer’s longtime girlfriend, Yva Lauren Cao, is a star cheerleader for one of Duke's biggest Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) rivals: the University of Miami.
The relationship between the two basketball stars dates back to their days at Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, where they even attended prom together. While Boozer followed in his father Carlos Boozer's footsteps to Durham, Cao stayed home to join the Hurricanes' elite cheer squad.
Despite the conference rivalry, Cao has been at Duke games this season, famously turning heads in custom Boozer boots and supporting her boyfriend during Duke's ACC Championship victory over Virginia.
The dynamic creates a unique tension during March Madness. While Boozer is a frontrunner for National Player of the Year, averaging 22.5 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, Cao is an award-winning athlete in her own right, having earned First Team All-Dade honors from the Miami Herald.
On social media, the couple remains each other's biggest supporters. Boozer recently commented on Cao’s Instagram media dump, writing, “When Yva posts its a good day,” much to the delight of college basketball fans.
While the Hurricanes and Blue Devils are on opposite sides of the NCAA bracket, the rivalry remains friendly but firm. Cao has been spotted wearing a shirt featuring a photo of her and Cameron together, proving that while she may bleed orange and green on Saturdays, her heart is firmly with the Blue Devils' star forward.
As Duke continues its quest for a national title, the spotlight on this ACC power couple only continues to grow.
