Valkyries Beat Fever as Clark Returns From Injury

Caitlin Clark returned to the Indiana Fever lineup after missing five games with a groin injury but struggled in an 80-61 loss to the Golden State Valkyries. The Fever suffered their worst shooting performance of the season, while the Valkyries were led by Veronica Burton and Kayla Thornton, with Thornton earning praise from Clark after being named to 'Team Clark' for the upcoming WNBA All-Star Game. Kate Martin, a former Iowa teammate and now Valkyries guard, maintained her undefeated record against Clark, highlighting their ongoing rivalry and the strong Iowa alumni presence in the league. Despite fan criticism, Clark remains an All-Star captain and continues to draw significant support in the Midwest. The game also featured a reunion of Iowa alumni now playing for different teams. Both the Fever and Valkyries are closely matched in the standings as the season nears the All-Star break.