Caitlyn Clark’s Return to the Court

Caitlyn Clark made her much-anticipated return to the court on Wednesday afternoon, but things didn’t go well for the Indiana Fever against the Golden State Valkyries. The Fever were dominated by the Valkyries, who are in the 60-61 age range, and Clark managed only six points throughout the game.

It was intriguing to see how head coach Stephanie White utilized Clark during the match. Before this game, Clark had averaged an impressive 33.3 points in her first nine games over 25 minutes. However, her playing time seemed to dip, possibly due to the scoreline as the game progressed.

Golden State entered the fourth quarter with a solid 64-51 lead, significantly boosted by a 20-9 advantage in the second quarter that left Indiana in a considerable hole at halftime. As the Fever struggled to claw their way back, Clark found herself on the bench, never re-entering the game.

It was a challenging night for the Fever. Kelsey Mitchell, another standout player, finished with just three points. Overall, the Fever’s shooting was dismal, landing only 30.9% of their shots.

The Valkyries weren’t exactly stellar either, shooting 26 for 70 from the field. Still, Veronica Burton and All-Star Kayla Thornton made crucial plays when it mattered most. Burton led the game with 21 points while also grabbing eight rebounds and contributing six assists. She was particularly effective from beyond the arc, hitting five out of six three-point attempts.

Thornton had quieter shooting stats—15 points on 4-for-15—but, thanks to four three-pointers and six free throws, she notched a respectable total of 18 points.

Looking ahead, the Fever will hope to bounce back against the Atlanta Dream in their home game on Friday night. The Dream currently sit at 12-7 this season, while Indiana is struggling at 9-10.