The Golden State Valkyries have taken the sports world by storm—not only for their upset victory over Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever, but also for what they said afterward.

In a highly anticipated matchup between the WNBA’s brightest new star and its newest franchise, the Valkyries outplayed the Fever in front of a sold-out crowd at Chase Center, winning 88–77. But it wasn’t just the scoreline that had fans buzzing. It was the Valkyries’ unapologetic breakdown of how they handled Clark—a performance now being dissected across sports media and social networks.

“We wanted to get physical with her,” Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase told reporters after the game. “We respect her game, but we weren’t going to back down. Our goal was to make her uncomfortable from the very first possession.”

Clark, who has become the face of the WNBA in her rookie season, struggled to find her rhythm. She shot 3-for-11 from the field, went 0-for-7 from three-point range, and turned the ball over six times. Valkyries defenders pressed her from baseline to baseline, denying her space and limiting her options.

“What we saw on film is that she doesn’t like to be bumped or forced left,” said Valkyries guard Chelsea Gray. “So we bumped her and forced her left.”

The comments quickly made their way online, with clips of Nakase and her players going viral on platforms like TikTok and X (formerly Twitter). Fans praised the Valkyries for their honesty, intensity, and no-nonsense approach to facing one of the league’s most popular players.

In one video that garnered over a million views in under 12 hours, Nakase explains the team’s mindset: “We knew the world was watching. We didn’t want to be part of the Caitlin Clark show. We wanted to crash it.”

Clark responded to the loss with maturity and poise, admitting that she had been thrown off her game.

“They were physical and disciplined,” she said postgame. “It’s something I need to learn from. I’m still adjusting to the level of competition in this league.”

Despite the tough night, Clark praised the Valkyries for their effort.

“They played like a team with something to prove,” she said. “And they proved it.”

The atmosphere inside Chase Center was electric. Fans chanted “overrated” and “night-night” in reference to NBA superstar Steph Curry’s signature celebration—directed at Clark as she struggled to find open looks. Even Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski was seen laughing courtside, mimicking a referee’s traveling call on Clark. The moment went viral, sparking debate online about sportsmanship and crowd behavior.

“It’s part of the game,” Clark said of the chants and taunts. “You’ve got to embrace it.”

Analysts noted the significance of this game—not just for what it revealed about Golden State’s competitiveness, but also for what it showed about how teams plan to defend Clark moving forward.

“This is the blueprint,” ESPN commentator Monica McNutt said. “Be physical, disrupt her early, and don’t let her dictate pace. Golden State exposed some real challenges for Caitlin.”

The Valkyries, who entered the season with little national attention, are now squarely in the spotlight. With their fast-paced play, fierce defense, and growing fan base, they are emerging as one of the WNBA’s most exciting new stories.

Meanwhile, Caitlin Clark’s journey continues. Though her performance was below expectations, many fans and former players defended her, citing the natural ups and downs of a rookie season.

“She’s learning,” said Hall of Famer Sue Bird. “You don’t grow without games like this.”

The Fever and Valkyries are scheduled to meet again in July, and anticipation is already building for the rematch. With a viral rivalry now brewing, fans can expect even more fireworks next time around.

For now, the Valkyries hold the bragging rights—and they’re not afraid to talk about it.

“She’s great,” said Gray with a smile, “but tonight, we were better.”

https://youtu.be/cVWNidE1PW0