Caitlin Clark faced renewed defensive challenges in her return to action Wednesday, as the Golden State Valkyries’ relentless defense limited her effectiveness during the Indiana Fever’s 80-61 defeat. Clark, back from a groin injury, logged 25 minutes and posted 10 points, five rebounds, six assists, and four turnovers, struggling to find her rhythm against the Valkyries’ physical and disciplined approach.
Clark characterized her return as a gradual process, acknowledging the difficulty of regaining full game stamina after a long absence. Meanwhile, the Fever as a team struggled their worst shooting night of the season, converting only 30.9% of attempts and 22.2% from beyond the arc, underscoring the Valkyries’ defensive dominance. With this victory, Golden State solidified their position with the league’s second-best defensive rating and the top mark in field goal defense, holding opponents to just 39.4% shooting—statistics that place their defense among the best seen in recent WNBA history.
Emphasizing Physical Pressure to Disrupt Clark’s Game
During their matchup earlier this season, the Valkyries limited Clark to just 11 points on 3-for-14 shooting. Head coach Natalie Nakase highlighted the team’s physicality as the cornerstone of their defensive success against Clark, an elite perimeter threat. Nakase observed that because Clark favors a left stepback move akin to an easy shot for her, the Valkyries focused on denying her rhythm by applying constant disruption and forcing her to face multiple defenders.
“I mean, you guys saw what we’re doing. We were being disruptive. We know [Clark] doesn’t like physicality,”
Nakase explained.
“We know she wants to get to that left stepback. I watched her at Iowa, she loves that left stepback, it’s almost like a layup for her. So we were just making sure she wasn’t getting into rhythm and then that she was seeing multiple bodies.”
This defensive intensity did not falter in their most recent encounter. Throughout the game, Clark was met with consistent contact, including physical bumps and holds both on and off the ball. In the third quarter alone, Clark experienced multiple disruptive plays: Kayla Thornton’s defensive aggression forced a key turnover with a hard reach-in, and Carla Leite’s physical defense made Clark settle for a contested, tough shot rather than a clean look. Despite potential foul calls, the Valkyries maintained their aggressive style without yielding many free-throw opportunities.
Effectively Sealing Off the Paint to Limit Fever’s Inside Scoring
Known for leading the league in points scored in the paint, the Fever were held to a season-low 26 points in this area against the Valkyries. Golden State’s defensive scheme emphasizes collapsing on any attempted drive, closing down lanes and congesting space near the basket. Their ability to limit clean looks inside forces opponents to take less efficient midrange jumpers instead.
For example, early in the first quarter, Clark managed to gain an advantage on defender Kaitlyn Chen, but nearly three Valkyries converged immediately, cutting off her path and forcing her into a contested stepback jumper, which she missed. Clark’s shooting inside the arc was a disappointing 2-for-7, well below her season average of just over 50%. The Valkyries currently lead the league by permitting the fewest attempts within five feet of the basket, while pushing opponents to take more midrange shots, the third-highest in the league, a clear advantage in defensive positioning.
This strategic defense against inside scoring also affected Indiana’s All-Star center Aliyah Boston, who was limited to six points on 2-for-8 shooting, marking her poorest offensive performance this season.
“We ask a lot out of Temi [Fagbenle], [Monique Billings] and [Laeticia Amihere] and they execute,”
Valkyries guard Veronica Burton said.
“They come in every single day, they cover for us and hold it down against big time post players.”
Dominating the Boards Despite Size Disadvantage
Although the Valkyries lack height compared to other teams—only three players stand taller than 6-foot-2 and none above 6-foot-4—they compensate with sustained effort and determination when it comes to rebounding. Kayla Thornton summed it up after the game, saying,
“We’re not the biggest team, but we’ve got big hearts.”
The team’s rebounding metrics speak volumes: they rank third in offensive rebounding rate (32.9%), defensive rebounding rate (71.8%), and overall rebounding rate (52.4%). In the most recent game against Indiana, Golden State decisively won the rebounding battle 47-36 and limited the Fever to just seven offensive boards. This rebound dominance prevents multiple scoring opportunities for the opposition, as the Valkyries force opponents into low-percentage shots and almost always secure the ensuing rebound.
Combining their defensive prowess with strong offensive rebounding, the Valkyries frequently control the game‘s pace by securing more possessions. Against the Fever, they took more field goal attempts (70 to 68) and earned more free throw attempts (21 to 14), further demonstrating how well they controlled the game flow.
Statistical Evidence of Golden State’s Defensive Excellence
The Valkyries’ ability to stifle opponents inside has placed them near the top of several key defensive categories. Their defense restricts teams to an average of 16.7 shots within five feet of the basket per game, while opponents shoot only 57.1% on those attempts. Compared to other leading teams, such as the Mercury (10.6 attempts, 60.0%), Mystics (12.1 attempts, 64.0%), and Aces (12.6 attempts, 63.2%), Golden State allows more attempts than some but compensates with tighter defense on shot quality.
Regarding midrange defense, the Valkyries allow 12.9 attempts per game with a 32.5% shooting accuracy, a level of resistance that ranks among the best. Other notable teams like the Lynx and Dream permit similar numbers but with higher shooting percentages. By funneling offenses into low-efficiency midrange shots, the Valkyries reduce opponents’ scoring chances significantly.
Clark’s frustration embodies the difficulty the Fever faced breaking through this defensive wall. Alongside her, teammates struggled to generate quality looks near the basket or convert effectively, marking a collective offensive setback largely attributable to the Valkyries’ stout defense.
Implications for the Fever and Future Matchups
The Valkyries’ aggressive defensive style has been crucial in enabling them to stand out in the league and remain competitive despite being an expansion team. Their capacity to constrain players like Caitlin Clark and other key opponents highlights the effectiveness of their system and personnel execution. Meanwhile, Clark’s ongoing adjustment to coming back from injury, combined with Golden State’s suffocating defense, suggests persistent challenges for the Fever when facing this opponent.
As the season progresses, the Valkyries appear poised to secure a playoff berth, a milestone for a first-year franchise, fueled by their defense-first identity. For the Fever, addressing these defensive struggles—especially those impacting Caitlin Clark’s performance—will be critical to turning close contests into victories.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why was Caitlin Clark sitting with Taylor Swift?
A. Clark was spotted with Swift in a suite at Arrowhead Stadium during the Chiefs’ playoff game against the Houston Texans on Saturday. This was their first public appearance at a game together after Clark mentioned that Swift invited her earlier in the season.
Q. Why is Taylor Swift sitting with Caitlin Clark?
A. Taylor Swift was spotted sitting beside WNBA player Caitlin Clark during a Chiefs home game against the Houston Texans.
Caitlin Clark was invited by Swift to attend a Chiefs game shortly after Clark shared this exciting news.