Clark struggles to search out rhythm as Fever blow 13-point lead towards Valkyries

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The Indiana Fever didn't have to come back to Caitlin Clark’s protection this time, however the Golden State Valkyries didn't make it simple on her on Thursday night time.

Clark, coming off a sport that concerned a variety of extracurricular exercise after the whistle between herself and the Connecticut Solar, was not her ordinary sharp-shooting self within the Fever’s 88-77 loss to the Valkyries on the street.

Clark shot simply 3-of-14 from the sphere, together with her seven failed three-point makes an attempt going by the ring, because the Fever ended up blowing a 13-point lead on this sport to fall to 6-6 on the 12 months.

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Caitlin Clark, #22 of the Indiana Fever, dribbles towards Laeticia Amihere, #3 of the Golden State Valkyries, within the first quarter at Chase Heart on June 19, 2025 in San Francisco. (Eakin Howard/Getty Pictures)

Clark tallied 11 factors, 9 assists and 7 rebounds, whereas turning the ball over six instances to Golden State.

Whereas Clark struggled from past the arc, her teammates didn't fare that a lot better. As a crew, the Fever shot simply 8-of-29 from three-point land, with Sophie Cunningham, who had been dubbed Clark’s "bodyguard" on the courtroom after the earlier sport towards the Solar, being the one one to hit a couple of of her makes an attempt.

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In the meantime, the Valkyries, led by Kayla Thornton’s 16-point night time with 5 three-pointers, now personal the identical 6-6 file.

Golden State additionally noticed main contributions off the bench, with Tiffany Hayes (14 factors, 5 assists, three rebounds), Chloe Bibby (12 factors, three rebounds, one help) and Laeticia Amihere (10 factors, three rebounds, three assists) all serving to their crew overcome a double-digit deficit ultimately.

For Indiana, Aliyah Boston led the crew with 17 factors, whereas Kelsey Mitchell (16 factors) and Natasha Howard (13 factors) all landed in double digits in that class. Nonetheless, turnovers performed a big issue within the Fever dropping their lead, because the Valkyries pressured 17 complete whereas committing simply seven.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, #22, handles the ball towards Golden State Valkyries ahead Kayla Thornton, #5, in the course of the first quarter at Chase Heart. (Darren Yamashita-Imagn Pictures)

This uncharacteristic efficiency from Clark particularly comes after getting poked within the eye and being shoved to the bottom in a really bodily WNBA Commissioner’s Cup sport towards the Solar on Tuesday night time.

Clark was being guarded by Jacy Sheldon when the Solar guard poked her within the eye, and the Fever celebrity retaliated by pushing her away.

That led to the Solar’s Marina Mabrey working over and shoving Clark to the bottom whereas her again was turned. A skirmish broke out, however it might not be the tip for each groups.

Later within the sport, Cunningham wrapped up Sheldon whereas she was making an attempt to attain a basket within the fourth quarter, and it escalated to the purpose when each gamers acquired ejected after their bodily altercation beneath the ring.

Caitlin Clark, #22 of the Indiana Fever, prepares to shoot a free throw in the course of the sport towards the Golden State Valkyries on June 19, 2025 at Chase Heart in San Francisco. (Noah Graham/NBAE through Getty Pictures)

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Indiana ended up successful the sport, 88-71, with Clark totaling 20 factors and 6 assists. It was simply her second sport since getting back from damage.

Nonetheless, this definitely will not be the way in which Clark or the Fever needed to reply after that chippy sport towards the Solar. Their subsequent alternative to get again within the win column can be Sunday towards the Las Vegas Aces.