Caitlin Clark’s much-anticipated WNBA debut season has been nothing short of a rollercoaster, but few saw this drop coming. On a night billed as a showcase of star power and promise, the Indiana Fever were stunned by the WNBA’s newest franchise, the Golden State Valkyries. In a 91-78 defeat that sent shockwaves through the league, Clark—who has carried both the weight of expectation and the spotlight since day one—went 0-for-7 from three-point range, delivering one of the most uncharacteristic performances of her professional career.
The Valkyries, playing in just their third official WNBA game since the franchise’s inception, delivered a statement to the rest of the league. Despite being newcomers, they didn’t flinch on the big stage, matching the hype with hustle, defensive pressure, and clutch shooting. Their aggressive and disciplined defense proved especially effective against Clark, who looked visibly frustrated as her shots rimmed out one after the other. The Fever guard finished with just nine points on 3-of-14 shooting, while adding six assists and four turnovers.
The defeat marks yet another chapter in Indiana’s rocky start to the season, but it also brings into focus the pressure on Clark to lead and produce at an elite level, night in and night out. Her struggles from beyond the arc were glaring in a game where perimeter shooting could have shifted the tide. Each of her seven misses from deep was accompanied by gasps from the sold-out crowd at Chase Center, many of whom had shown up wearing No. 22 jerseys, hoping to witness a signature Clark performance.
Instead, it was the Valkyries’ dynamic rookie trio—headlined by shooting guard Nyla Cambridge, forward Zia Thompson, and floor general Lexi Green—that stole the spotlight. Cambridge, who was selected fourth overall in this year’s draft, dropped 21 points, including a pair of crucial fourth-quarter threes that sealed the game for Golden State. Thompson added 17 points and nine rebounds, while Green controlled the tempo with poise, finishing with 10 points and eight assists.
The Valkyries’ physical defense threw the Fever out of rhythm early. From the opening tip, Clark was double-teamed off screens, forced to give up the ball or drive into the paint where Valkyries center Ayana Wells—a 6-foot-6 shot-blocking presence—was waiting. That rim protection disrupted Indiana’s interior game as well, making it clear that Golden State came with a plan and executed it to perfection.
While Clark’s off night was the story that dominated postgame headlines, Indiana’s broader team issues were equally apparent. NaLyssa Smith had a solid showing with 19 points and 11 rebounds, and Aliyah Boston battled for 13 points and eight boards, but the Fever struggled to create spacing, and their bench combined for just 12 points. Turnovers—Indiana had 18—once again crippled the team in crucial stretches, often fueling fast breaks for the Valkyries and killing any momentum Clark and company tried to build.
The postgame press conference saw a reflective and candid Caitlin Clark, who didn’t shy away from owning her performance. “I’ve got to be better,” she said. “This team depends on me to make shots, to create for others, and tonight I didn’t do my job. Credit to Golden State. They were the better team in every facet of the game.”
Clark’s humility and accountability were appreciated, but the questions are mounting. Is the pressure catching up to her? Is Indiana doing enough to support her development and success on the court? She leads all rookies in scoring and assists this season, but she has also faced intense physical defense, fatigue from a grueling schedule, and the psychological toll of being the most talked-about athlete in the league.
The Valkyries, meanwhile, are rapidly shaking off their “expansion” label. With a clear identity, a disciplined system under head coach Vanessa Jackson, and a young core that is learning how to win on the fly, Golden State’s victory over Indiana wasn’t just a flash in the pan—it felt like a warning shot. This team isn’t just here to develop; it’s here to contend.
Jackson praised her team’s composure and game plan, noting, “We knew Caitlin is a phenomenal player. She can shoot from anywhere, she can pass with the best of them. But we believed in our defense. We wanted to make her uncomfortable and force the ball out of her hands. I thought our team executed the plan perfectly.”
Golden State’s arrival in the league has been a massive media story in itself. With a Bay Area market hungry for basketball success, a state-of-the-art arena, and a fanbase already drawing comparisons to Golden State’s NBA counterpart, the Valkyries are building something fast and formidable. The win over the Fever gave them their second straight victory, and perhaps more importantly, a marquee moment that will help define their identity.
For Indiana, the loss deepens concerns about consistency. Despite Clark’s flashes of brilliance—highlighted by a 30-point triple-double just last week—the Fever have failed to string together wins or establish rhythm. Head coach Christie Sides remains optimistic but acknowledged the team’s shortcomings after the game. “We’ve got to clean up the turnovers. We’ve got to be smarter with our shot selection. And we’ve got to take some pressure off Caitlin and play team basketball. When we move the ball and trust each other, good things happen. But tonight, we didn’t do that consistently.”
Clark’s off-night may serve as a reminder that even generational talents have bad games. But with every dribble she takes, she’s also carrying the weight of a franchise’s hopes, record-setting television ratings, and a WNBA looking to capitalize on its growing popularity. Her historic college career at Iowa set a bar that few could realistically meet, and yet she’s come close, drawing packed arenas, selling out merchandise, and breathing new life into the Fever organization.
But performances like this—7 three-point attempts, 0 makes—are part of the learning curve. WNBA defenders are longer, faster, smarter, and more physical than any Clark saw in the Big Ten. She’s no longer the biggest fish in the pond. And nights like this, as painful as they may be, are likely to be part of her journey toward becoming the superstar everyone expects.
The Indiana Fever now fall to 3-9 on the season, their playoff hopes slowly slipping unless the team finds more stability on both ends of the floor. The Valkyries, in contrast, move to 2-1 and continue to turn heads as the season gains steam. Their win over Clark and the Fever marks a significant moment in a season where expansion teams are rarely expected to compete at such a high level.
As fans and media replay every Clark miss and dissect every play, one thing is certain—Caitlin Clark isn’t going to shy away from the challenge. She’s too competitive, too skilled, and too driven to let one game define her rookie campaign. But it will serve as a powerful motivator.
“Every loss teaches you something,” Clark said. “You don’t want to go through it, but it shows you what you need to work on. I’ll be in the gym tomorrow. I’ve got to keep getting better.”
And that’s exactly what the Fever—and the league—are counting on. Because while the Golden State Valkyries may have stolen the show on this particular night, the long-term storyline still runs through Caitlin Clark. One game won’t change that, but it may just be the spark she needs to elevate her game to the next level.
