Valkyries throttle Fever, Caitlin Clark in big road win

Jerry McDonald, Bay Area News Group on Jul 9, 2025

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The Golden State Valkyries picked up a big road win Wednesday by taking charge in the second quarter and keeping their foot on the gas for an 80-61 win over the Indiana Fever at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

The Valkyries improved to 10-9 after losing the first two games of a four-game road trip in Minnesota and Atlanta. Now 3-6 on the road, it was the first win outside the state of California for Golden State, which counted its first two road victories against the Sparks in Los Angeles.

The WNBA leader in field-goal percentage defense, Golden State held Indiana to 21-for-68 shooting (30.9%) and 6-for-27 shooting on 3-point attempts. The 61 points were the fewest a Golden State opponent has scored all season.

“Overall we played team basketball today and I think that’s something we’ve been missing,” Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase said. “We played team defense. I’d say the last two games it got a little individual. Credit to our players, just being coachable, coachable, coachable.”

For Indiana (9-10), it was the second state loss to the Valkyries, losing 88-77 at Chase Center on June 19.

Veronica Burton led the Valkyries with 21 points, including a career-high five 3-point baskets on six attempts. All-Star Kayla Thornton missed her first six shots but came on strong in the second half and finished with 18 points, including four 3-pointers as the Valkyries had 12 in all.

Indiana star Caitlin Clark, who had missed the previous five games with a groin injury, struggled again against Golden State. She finished with 10 points on 4-for-12 shooting to go along with five rebounds, six assists and four turnovers. Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever with 12 points and Makayla Timpson had 10.

“Coming in with two losses, we knew we had to come in really locked in and come in with a great defensive game plan,” Valkyries guard Kate Martin told KPIX on the postgame show. “I thought we executed well tonight. We covered for each other a lot. We were on the same page. If someone got beat we were always there to help each other.”

Clark, Martin’s teammate in college at Iowa, was happy to be back on the court, although it took her awhile to get her wind. Playing in shorter spurts, Clark said, affected her rhythm.

“It felt good to be out there. I thought we started really well,” Clark said. “When they went on their first run it kind of deflated us a little bit. I’m not really sure why. We struggled to do what the coaches asked of us. They just played with more energy and effort, and those are things that just can’t happen.”

Golden State outrebounded Indiana 47-36, including an 11-7 advantage on the offensive boards.

“We’re not the biggest team, but we’ve got big hearts,” Thornton said. “We did a good job walling up and playing without fouling.”

Burton’s fourth 3-pointer of the game put Golden State up 64-50, with Mitchell hitting one of two free throws after being fouled for a 64-51 margin after three quarters.

“It takes all of us, from the bench to the starters to the coaching staff,” Burton said. “We played a 40-minute game.”

Golden State finished with a flourish in the first half — an 18-2 run — and took a 41-32 lead into intermission, outscoring Indiana 20-9 in the second quarter. They had fallen behind by as much as 12 points in the first half during a noon start in an eastern time zone.

Thornton, after missing her first six shots, connected on a 3-ball and a pair of free throws and Tiffany Hayes scored on a drive with 45.2 seconds left. Clark, who was scoreless after five early points in the first quarter, was 2 for 6 from the floor.

Golden State’s bench outscored the Fever 19-6 in the first half. Burton had eight points at the half. She also had three rebounds and three assists in a half during which nine of 10 players who played scored for the Valkyries. Aari McDonald led Indiana with seven points at halftime.

The Valkyries trailed by as many as nine points in the first quarter but closed to within 23-21 when Janelle Salaun scored on a driving layup at the buzzer.

Clark, after being shut down when the two teams met on June 19 at Chase Center, scored five quick points and had an assist in her first shift after missing the last five games.

The Valkyries close out their road trip Saturday against the Las Vegas Aces.

Now 2-0 against Indiana, the Valkyries will play them one more time on Aug. 31 at Chase Center.

“I don’t think you ever have anyone figured out,” Nakase said. “You always have to respect the game. If you cheat the game, the game will cheat you right back.”

Thornton on Team Caitlin

Gainbridge Fieldhouse will be the site of the All-Star Game on July 19. Captains Clark and Napheesa Collier of Minnesota each picked among the 20 players who were selected. Thornton, the final player selected, will play for Team Clark.