Caitlin Clark was in the middle of a scuffle that led to an ejection, flagrant fouls and subsequent fines the last time she appeared in a WNBA game. It inspired Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White to blast the league’s refs and reignited the national debate about how the WNBA’s biggest star is treated and viewed by opposing players.
Thursday is the first chance to put the focus back on Clark’s on-court exploits. The Fever (6-5) are on the road to face the expansion Golden State Valkyries for the first time at the Chase Center in San Francisco. The Valkyries (5-6) saw their three-game winning streak snapped Tuesday in a loss to the Dallas Wings. Indiana has consecutive wins over the New York Liberty and Connecticut Sun since Clark returned from a quad injury.
Clark averaged 26 points and 7.5 assists on 11 of 20 shooting from 3-point range in those two games, but the Fever’s 88-71 victory over the Sun on Tuesday, June 17 was largely overshadowed by an incident late in the third quarter. Clark was dribbling around the perimeter when Sun guard Jacy Sheldon made contact with Clark’s face. The Fever star was frustrated and shoved Sheldon. But Sun forward Marina Mabrey immediately jumped in and pushed Clark down on the floor. Clark’s teammate, Fever forward Sophie Cunningham, later pulled down Sheldon during a layup attempt and, after review, was given a flagrant 2 foul and ejected from the game.
White, though, will miss the game for personal reasons. Austin Kelly will be acting coach.
Here’s how to watch Thursday’s WNBA game featuring Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever vs. the Golden State Valkyries:
What time is Fever vs. Valkyries?
The WNBA regular-season game between the Indiana Fever and Golden State Valkyries is scheduled to tip at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. local time).
How to watch Fever vs. Valkyries WNBA game: TV, stream for Caitlin Clark
The WNBA regular-season game between the Indiana Fever and Golden State Warriors will be streamed nationally exclusively via Amazon Prime, with only local affiliates in the Bay Area and Indianapolis able to televise the game.
Time: 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT
Location: Chase Center in San Francisco, California
TV: KPIX 5 (Bay Area), KOVR 13 (Sacramento), WTHR Channel 13 (Indianapolis)
Stream: Amazon Prime
Watch Fever vs. Valkyries with Amazon Prime