Caitlin Clark’s Shooting Slump Sinks Fever in 88-77 Loss to Valkyries

The Indiana Fever faced a tough night on Thursday, falling 88-77 to the Golden State Valkyries, with Caitlin Clark struggling to find her rhythm. After a heated clash with the Connecticut Sun, Clark’s usually sharp shooting went cold, hitting just 3-of-14 field goals and missing all seven three-point attempts. The Fever squandered a 13-point lead, dropping to 6-6 on the season.

Clark still contributed 11 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds, but six turnovers hurt her impact. Her teammates couldn’t pick up the slack, shooting a dismal 8-of-29 from beyond the arc. Sophie Cunningham, Clark’s on-court protector after the Sun skirmish, was the only Fever player to sink multiple threes.

The Valkyries, now also 6-6, capitalized on Indiana’s 17 turnovers while committing just seven. Kayla Thornton led with 16 points, including five three-pointers, while bench players Tiffany Hayes, Chloe Bibby, and Laeticia Amihere fueled a comeback from a double-digit deficit.

Aliyah Boston paced the Fever with 17 points, followed by Kelsey Mitchell (16) and Natasha Howard (13). The loss stings after Clark’s physical battle against the Sun, where she endured an eye poke and a shove, yet still led Indiana to an 88-71 victory with 20 points. Thursday’s off-night leaves the Fever eager to rebound against the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday.