Caitlin Clark returns to the scene of one of the worst-shooting nights of her WNBA career when the Indiana Fever visit the Golden State Valkyries on Thursday night in San Francisco.
The game also serves as a rematch of a 90-82 Fever home win last Friday in which Clark contributed 22 points, shooting 7-for-15.
Indiana (4-2) has not played since, whereas Golden State (4-2) opened a four-game homestand on Monday with a 97-70 romp over the Connecticut Sun.
Clark has made only one previous trip to San Francisco. She missed all seven of her 3-point attempts and shot just 3-for-14 overall in an 88-77 loss to the expansion club last June.
Clark was similarly off the mark in a home rematch with the Valkyries a month later, going just 4-for-12. In three games against Golden State, she has averaged just 14.3 points while shooting 14-for-41 (34.1%).
The league’s top attraction is averaging 25 points in her last three games, connecting on 13 of 30 from outside the 3-point arc. She recorded two double-doubles in those games, missing a third by one assist.
The Fever have won three in a row (one with Clark sitting out due to a sore back), but now embark on a stretch of four of five on the road.
The five days off allowed Clark to rest her back while also serving as the grand marshal for the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday. She was back at practice Tuesday, reminding reporters back injuries can be tricky things.
“I think it’s just been over the course of the last year when I’ve kind of been understanding my body more,” Clark said. “I think before that it was always like, ‘I’m fine, I’m fine,’ like, ‘Go play, go play, go play,’ and maybe sometimes I’m a little too hyper-aware about certain things. I don’t think it’s anything of concern, though.”
The Valkyries rolled in the triumph over Connecticut, and might have helped their offense with the debut of Juste Jocyte.
The franchise’s first draft choice — No. 5 overall last year — didn’t join the Valkyries last season and stayed away for nearly a month this season because of commitments to the Lithuanian national team and her Spanish professional team. The 6-foot-2 guard practiced with Golden State for the first time Sunday, before thrilling the fans by making her first two WNBA shots during the final 4:48 of Monday’s victory.
Asked what stood out about the 20-year-old’s debut, Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase couldn’t stop talking.
“Her confidence,” said the WNBA’s reigning Coach of the Year. “Credit to my coaching staff for getting her ready … also the players, too. As soon as I subbed her, they were so hyped, so excited. You see that type of connection and support and that love immediately; that was amazing.”
–Field Level Media
