Caitlin Clark fails to shine as Fever drop WNBA game to Valkyries
Despite securing an 88–77 win over the Indiana Fever, Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase sharply criticised WNBA officiating during Thursday’s heated contest, adding her voice to growing league-wide frustration with referees.
Caitlin Clark endured one of her poorest performances of the season, shooting just 3-of-14 from the field, missing all seven of her three-point attempts, and committing six turnovers.
Indiana’s head coach Stephanie White was unavailable for personal reasons, with assistant Austin Kelly stepping in. The Fever led at half-time but were overrun by a 33–18 fourth-quarter surge from Golden State.
Though her outburst drew no technical foul, her protest against referees Amy Bonner, Ryan Sassano, and Kelsey Reynolds was emphatic.
Clark’s Struggles Under Spotlight
Clark, the rookie guard who has drawn attention both for her scoring and the scrutiny she receives on court, finished with 11 points — five of which came from free throws — and posted a -10 plus-minus.
She was held scoreless in the second quarter and visibly frustrated as Golden State’s defence, particularly Leite, applied constant pressure.
Caitlin Clark went 0-7 from three vs. the Valkyries 😳 pic.twitter.com/UVHsn8pPcf
Despite Clark’s off-night, the Valkyries’ dominance in the final quarter sealed the win, extending their strong start as an expansion team in their inaugural season.
Caitlin Clark keeps its real 💯 on the Valkyries atmosphere in ballhalla 🤟🏽 in post game interview pic.twitter.com/pKrfFfQGX1
While Nakase voiced her frustration courtside, the Valkyries’ social media team drew widespread attention for live commentary that veered into mockery.
Real-time posts highlighted Clark’s misfires with memes, sarcastic captions and comparisons — including one that likened her flop attempt to a “Pez dispenser” head snap.
The online trolling was capped with a Steph Curry “Night Night” GIF after the final buzzer, cementing the team’s dual impact — both on and off the court.
Boston Shines Despite Fever Collapse
Indiana forward Aliyah Boston had a strong individual showing, scoring 15 points and grabbing seven rebounds in the first half, finishing with a double-double — the 29th of her career.
She also moved into second place on the franchise’s all-time double-doubles list and fourth in blocks. Teammate Natasha Howard recorded her 4,000th career point.
The Fever (6–6) continue their three-game road stretch with a matchup against the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday, nationally televised on ESPN.