WNBA: Victorious Valkyries show off team-first chemistry in Indy

The mood was jovial inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse ahead of the Indiana Fever’s home game against the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday. That may have been in part due to the fact that the day was deemed “Kids’ Day,” and there were plenty of summer campers on hand to enjoy the game. Attendance was high for mid-day, mid-week game, likely because the match marked the return of Caitlin Clark, who had not played since June 24 due to a groin injury.

Clark’s return also introduced a starting five shake-up; in addition to No. 22, the Fever’s starting five included Kelsey Mitchell, Aliyah Boston, Natasha Howard and Aari McDonald. The Valkyries started Kayla Thornton, Kate Martin, Tiffany Hayes, Veronica Burton and Temi Fágbénlé.

That festive atmosphere extended to the players of both teams, who were shaking hands, hugging, and high-fiving ahead of tip-off. Unfortunately, the energy didn’t exactly bleed into the first quarter, which started off slow and clunky for both teams.

The Valkyries had the first possession, and fans of both teams were treated to a little one-on-one action from Clark and former Iowa teammate Martin, as the former guarded the latter tightly. The game was scoreless for nearly the first two minutes until Veronica Burton put up two points for the Valkyries that were immediately answered by Mitchell.

Clark went on a small tear and racked up five points, which temporarily energized both the Fever and the crowd. Hull checked in for Clark near the 5:30 mark, a sign that head coach Stephanie White will take her time easing Clark back into rotation—whether she likes it or not.

The Valkyries continued to struggle to warm up throughout the first quarter, a hallmark of the team’s otherwise extraordinary inaugural season, but rallied toward the end and the score was 23-21 in favor of the Fever ahead of the second quarter.

The Fever started off the second ahead, running up the score to 30-23 before the Valkyries began to catch up. In true Golden State fashion, once that warm up beganm it was hard to slow down, and the Valkyries took over the game and refused to give up the lead for the rest of the second. The teams headed into the half with the score at 41-32 in favor of Golden State.

Early in the third, Martin brought the score up to 47-32 for the Valkyries with a series of shots and Golden State went on to dominate the rest of the game with their signature brand of cohesive team basketball. Every person on the floor was committed to the win, something that’s been evident in their games more often than not.

A Fever burst at one point trimmed the margin to five points, but Golden State refused to back down, and the third quarter ended with the score 64-51. Indiana failed to make any significant progress throughout the rest of the game, which ultimately concluded with a 80-61 win in favor of the Valkyries.

While speaking to reporters after the game, White admitted to being “disappointed” with her team’s performance. Part of the team’s struggles, she continued, was because “our attention to detail was poor.” “I’m not sure if it’s not knowing the game plan as much as… because if it’s not knowing the game plan, then that’s a whole other conversation,” White explained.

The Fever will next play the Atlanta Dream at home on Friday, June 11, and the Valkyries will meet the Aces in Las Vegas the following day.