Indiana Fever Lose Sixth Game as Caitlin Clark Struggles Against Golden State

The Indiana Fever suffered a surprising 88-77 loss to the expansion Golden State Valkyries, despite being favored by 12 points. Star guard Caitlin Clark, who usually plays at a high level, struggled significantly, finishing with just 11 points on 3-of-14 shooting and going 0-for-7 from three-point range, marking her second career game without a three-pointer. Teammate Aliyah Boston stood out with a double-double, contributing 17 points and 12 rebounds, but critics argue the Fever rely too heavily on Clark, which hampers their overall performance when she has an off night. The Valkyries mounted a strong comeback in the fourth quarter, outscoring Indiana 33-13, with key contributions from Kayla Thornton and Tiffany Hayes, whose bench outperformed the Fever's by a wide margin. The game also featured a controversial moment with Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski mimicking a travel call against Clark, sparking reactions on social media. Despite the setback, Clark emphasized the importance of maintaining perspective over the 44-game season and the team remains focused on rebounding in upcoming matches, including a tough road trip starting against the Las Vegas Aces.