Indiana Fever fall to Golden State Valkyries 88–77 in debut matchup

The Indiana Fever were defeated 88–77 by the expansion Golden State Valkyries in their first-ever meeting, as the Valkyries staged a stunning comeback at Chase Center.

Indiana led 44–38 at half-time, powered by Aliyah Boston, who had 15 points and 7 rebounds by the break. They maintained a 13-point lead late in the third quarter, with Kelsey Mitchell hitting timely shots, keeping the Fever in front.

Golden State turned the game around with a dominant 33–18 run in the fourth. That reset the momentum completely, as they capitalised on Fever turnovers and executed efficiently on offence.

One major aspect of the game was the concerns with officiating that was mentioned by both coaches.

According to SF Chronicle, Before tip-off, head coach Natalie Nakase acknowledged the physical nature of the matchup and emphasised the team’s mental preparation: “We knew we had to adapt to how games are officiated,” she said, noting the increased toughness required.

According to the Washington Post, Fever coach Stephanie White, who missed the game due to personal reasons, voiced concerns about refereeing standards: “Bad officiating is bad officiating,” she stated, criticising inconsistent calls and agreeing the physical play reached unsafe levels.

An emotional night for the Fever and Clark, but the Valkyries showed off depth, composure, and crowd support in their first home test. With the WNBA season continuing, both teams have more work ahead, but this debut match up already has fans talking.