Valkyries Stifle Caitlin Clark and Fever in 88-77 Comeback Win

SAN FRANCISCO — Caitlin Clark and her heroics may have been the headliner, but it was the Golden State Valkyries stifling defense who played the role of kryptonite.

The gritty expansion team continued their surprise breakout debut season on Thursday night, stunning the Indiana Fever with an 88-77 comeback win in front of another raucous, sold-out crowd at Chase Center. In a game hyped for Caitlin Clark’s Bay Area debut, it was the Valkyries’ relentless effort and explosive second-half performance that stole the show and the victory.

Golden State’s sixth straight sellout was buzzing from the tip, with 18,064 fans packing “Ballhalla” to watch the WNBA’s most popular player. Clark, who arrived in San Francisco a day early and dined with her former Iowa teammate and current Valkyries guard Kate Martin, was greeted with cheers before and during the game.

Once the ball was tipped, the Valkyries made sure the spotlight dimmed quickly. Clark finished with just 11 points on 3-of-14 shooting, missing all seven of her attempts from beyond the arc. It marked only the second time this season that Clark was held without a three-pointer and tied her season low in scoring.

“We just followed the game plan,” said Tiffany Hayes, who helped spearhead the defensive effort against Clark. “She’s a three-level scorer, but everybody was locked in. We made sure she didn’t get any easy looks. It was a great team defensive win.”

The win didn’t come easily. Indiana controlled much of the game, holding the lead at the end of each of the first three quarters and building a 13-point advantage in the middle of the 3rd quarter.

Golden State opened with a 7-2 run, but the Fever responded with a 14-0 burst, capitalizing on a six minute Valkyries scoring drought. By halftime, Indiana led 44-38 behind a strong performance from Aliyah Boston, who had 15 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks in the opening 20 minutes and later finished with 17 and 12.

Still, the Valkyries refused to fold. They chipped away in the third, closing the period on a 10-2 run sparked by Martin and Kayla Thornton. Veronica Burton’s three-pointer at the top of the arc and Tiffany Hayes’ go-ahead layup with eight minutes left marked the turning point. From there, Golden State outscored Indiana 33-18 in the fourth quarter, executing with poise and precision on both ends.

Thornton once again led by example, finishing with 16 points and six rebounds in just 20 minutes. It was her 11th straight game in double figures, and her two clutch three-pointers in the final five minutes helped seal the win. “She was huge,” said teammate Laeticia Amihere. “And she got on me a little bit, too, but that just fired me up.” Amihere was pivotal in crunch time, tallying a career-high four blocks and scoring 10 points in just over 19 minutes of play.

Chloe Bibby also made her presence felt in her WNBA debut, recording 12 points on 4-of-9 shooting and posting a team-best +25 plus-minus. Burton and Martin added 11 and nine points respectively, and the bench as a whole poured in 45 points, outscoring Indiana’s reserves 45-17.

Hayes, in just her second game back from injury, was sensational down the stretch. She scored eight of her 14 points in the fourth quarter, dished out a season-high five assists, and didn’t miss a shot from the free-throw line. “Tip is one of the quickest players I’ve been around,” said head coach Natalie Nakase. “She wanted the moment, she wanted the ball at the end, and yeah, she closed it for us.”

The Valkyries were crisp and composed, committing only seven turnovers, matching the second-lowest total by any team in the WNBA this season, and forcing 12 from the Fever.

Golden State shot 62.5% from the field in the final quarter and 51.5% in the second half overall, flipping a game that once looked out of reach into their most impressive comeback win of the year. Their 13-point comeback marked the largest deficit overcome by the young franchise in its inaugural season.

With the win, the Valkyries improve to 6-6 and have now taken four of their last five games. From a rocky start to a steady climb, the expansion squad is beginning to look like a team no one wants to face, especially not in Chase Center, where the crowd’s energy continues to serve as a sixth player. “They fueled us up,” said Amihere. “There was a stretch where we needed that energy, and we felt them right there with us.”

Golden State will look to keep its momentum going when they host the Connecticut Sun on Sunday. With confidence building and the defense clicking, the Valkyries have made it clear, you might come for the stars, but you’ll stay for the fight.

UP NEXT

• The Valkyries continue the homestand against the Connecticut Sun this Sunday, June 22 at 5:30 p.m. on KPIX+, KMAX, 95.7 The Game, and the Audacy App.
• For tickets, news, and more team updates, visit valkyries.wnba.com.