SAN FRANCISCO — It seems the “superpower” didn’t belong to Caitlin Clark. As a substitute, the Golden State Valkyries had been fueled by one other full home that upstaged probably the most well-known participant in girls’s basketball in an enormous means Thursday night time at Chase Middle.
Brandon Podziemski, who has turn into one thing of a mascot for the Warriors’ WNBA affiliate, wore a glad smile in a hallway after Valkyries pulled away within the second half for an 88-77 win earlier than a raucous crowd of 18,064.
“We stole the show,” Podziemski mentioned.
Clark was harassed right into a 3-for-14 capturing night time and went 0-for-7 on 3-point makes an attempt. She dedicated six turnovers and completed with 11 factors, seven rebounds and 9 assists. It was solely the second time in 47 WNBA video games she didn’t make a 3-pointer.
None of this diminishes Clark’s significance when it comes to elevating her sport, one thing that started in faculty at Iowa and has continued within the WNBA. As soon as upon a time in 1984, Michael Jordan got here to the Coliseum Enviornment for the primary time as a rookie for the Chicago Bulls and completed with 13 factors — the bottom whole of his first season.
It occurs.
Clark has performed in six video games this season, lacking 5 with a quadriceps harm. However she’s earned rock star standing in girls’s basketball and past in contrast to anybody else as a long-distance shooter and creator.
But the scene at Chase Middle wasn’t a bunch of neophyte followers getting their first public look with Clark in her first-ever journey to Sacramento. The sound at Chase was deafening all through, significantly in a 50-33 second half, and Clark and the Fever merely couldn’t sustain.
“They were screaming. When calls didn’t go our way, they reacted,” Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase mentioned. “Those are the type of moments that we really need. It puts pressure on the refs, it gives us that home-court advantage we’re looking for. I think our fans were our superpower tonight.”
There have been loads of Indiana jerseys with Clark’s identify and No. 22 on the enviornment, however whereas different venues have flocked to see Clark, it was clear from the outset that the ocean of purple Valkyries followers had been there to see their group.
Golden State is 6-6, identical to the Fever. However they’ve misplaced key worldwide gamers to their respective nationwide groups for EuroBasket 2025 and needed to alter the roster on the fly. None of that has altered the type Nakase and her workers have preached since Day 1 of coaching camp. They play disruptive protection, win hustle performs and unflinchingly shoot 3-pointers.
Noemi Revuelta, of Pompano Seaside, Florida, cheers for Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark (22) earlier than the beginning of their WNBA recreation at Chase Middle. Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group
Clark’s WNBA expertise has included some jealousy from opposing groups and gamers whilst she’s lifted the complete sport. Earlier than the Valkyries followers took over and Clark started misfiring, Clark was capturing 3-pointers in warmups, at one level hitting 29 of 30 as followers in midlevel seats carrying Indiana jerseys screamed “Caitlin! Caitlin!”
A pair of followers from Portland who had been Iowa transplants watched intently. Scot Northern wore an Iowa jersey with Clark’s No. 22 along with her identify on the again. His spouse Kati, an Iowa graduate, additionally had an Iowa jersey with the No. 20 for Kate Martin, a Clark teammate who had 9 factors and 5 rebounds for the Valkyries Thursday night time.
Scot obtained the tickets from his spouse as a birthday reward.
“I had never been a women’s basketball fan. I had never even watched a game until the Hawkeyes (at Iowa),” Scot Northern mentioned. “Now I’m just totally hooked on the WNBA. We’ve got WNBA League Pass. Portland’s getting a team next year, so just the chance to come here and see this matchup, it’s the best birthday present ever.”
The Northerns paid $700 per ticket for seats almost at ground stage, plus airfare and lodge. Afterward, outdoors the sector, they didn’t appear to thoughts that a lot that Clark and the Fever had a tough night time.
“It was great. Not the outcome we wanted but a great experience,” Scot Northern mentioned.
Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever was welcomed to San Francisco earlier than an 88-77 win by the Valkyries at Chase Middle. Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group
Clark, who spoke earlier than the sport however not after it, is cognizant of her significance and takes being a job mannequin severely. She’s a refined interview topic and her pregame convention was standing room solely, as it’s at just about each venue.
I requested her about residing life within the public eye at age 23.
“I feel at this point I’m pretty used to it. There is a lot of people that maybe this their first time to see us play. It’s my first time in San Francisco,” Clark mentioned. “It’s nonetheless enjoyable for me. There’s lots of people that may wish to be in my footwear and have these forms of alternatives.
“It’s good to remind yourself there are always eyes on you. My mom has reminded me of that since I was a kid. Even as a high school player, there are young girls wanting to be like you and you’ve got to set the best example you can 100 percent of the time. It’s my responsibility to help grow this game. There are some days that are harder than others but every day I remind myself I’m just lucky and fortunate.”
Indiana interim coach Austin Kelly marvels on the means Clark offers with the notoriety.
“You forget how young she is and how new to the league she is,” Kelly mentioned. “It’s been really good to watch such a young player handle it with such grace.”
Clark’s completed sufficient media to stray from potential land mines. She and the Fever had been concerned in a scuffle Tuesday night time with Connecticut. Clark, who has gotten the Stephen Curry tough stuff remedy to throw her off her recreation, was poked within the eye after which shoved to the ground by Marina Mabrey. The league checked out it after which upgraded Mabrey’s foul to a Flagrant 2.
It was the one query Clark wouldn’t contact.
I believe (coach Stephanie White) talked about it loads after the final recreation and it’s what it’s,” Clark mentioned. “You move on and my focus is just about tonight.”
Indiana guard Kelsey Mitchell mentioned the loss wasn’t as a lot about Clark’s points because it was in regards to the Valkyries.
“It’s not about Caitlin specifically,” Mitchell mentioned. “Our entire group was soft. They made us pay by being stronger, by being tougher. Fifty-fifty balls, deflections, getting in the passing lanes. We allowed it. We kind of tucked our tail tonight on the aggression side and that’s our downfall right now.”
Clark has watched the Valkyries carefully due to her friendship with Martin, so Thursday night time most likely got here as no shock.
“These people aren’t just showing up in a seat and checking a box about being here,” Clark mentioned. “They seem like they’re here to support and cheer and appreciate women’s basketball and that’s the coolest thing. They want to be part of it and be that sixth player to help this team win.”
