Valkyries Edge Out Fever
SAN FRANCISCO – Kayla Thornton made two crucial three-pointers in the last five minutes, finishing with 16 points and six rebounds, leading the Golden State Valkyries to an 88-77 win over the Indiana Fever on Thursday night.
Clark contributed 11 points, along with nine assists and seven rebounds. At one point, she pulled Indiana within two with a layup, but Golden State consistently answered back to any challenges.
The atmosphere was electric as the Valkyries (6-6) celebrated their sixth consecutive sold-out home game to kick off the season. The matchups on the newly expanded schedule have certainly turned out differently than expected.
Monique Billings showcased her hustle, grabbing an offensive rebound from her own missed three-pointer with 3:24 remaining in the game.
Veronica Burton hit a three-pointer from the top at 5:49, triggering a brief Indiana comeback, before scoring once more just before the game concluded.
Tiffany Hayes brought in 14 points with eight minutes left, while Chloe Bibby scored off Hayes’ assist, narrowing the gap to 64-61 for Golden State.
Aliya Boston had a standout night with 17 points and 12 rebounds, despite Clark’s struggles with her shooting, finishing 14 points out of 7 attempts from beyond the arc.
Clark had a tough start, missing her first six shots before finally scoring a layup at the 4:12 mark in the second quarter.
Boston managed to hit a three-pointer just before halftime, giving Indiana a 44-38 lead as the teams headed to the break.
Golden State initially jumped to a 7-2 lead, prompting Indiana to call a timeout. After that, Indiana erupted for a 14-0 run while the Valkyries went on a dry spell, missing 13 consecutive shots at one point.
This game lacked the skirmishes seen two days prior when the Fever triumphed 88-71 over Connecticut in a game characterized by tension and discipline.
Clark’s former Iowa teammate, Kate Martin, contributed nine points and five rebounds off the bench after dining out in San Francisco.
Fever head coach Stephanie White was absent due to personal matters, and Austin Kelly stepped in to coach the team.
The Fever will face the Ace in Las Vegas on Sunday, while the Valkyries are set to host Connecticut on the same day.
