Caitlin Clark's 3-for-14 Shooting In San Francisco and Nobody in the WNBA Is Ready For This Rematch

Hold up, y'all! Caitlin Clark is back on the court Thursday night, and guess where? San Francisco! If that city rings a bell with a little shiver, you're not wrong. Our league's biggest star is heading back to the scene of one of her absolute roughest shooting nights, and let me tell you, this rematch against the Golden State Valkyries is gonna be appointment viewing for anyone who loves some serious hoops drama.

Clark's Struggles Against the Valkyries Are REAL

Look, we all know Caitlin Clark is a certified bucket-getter, but for some reason, the Valkyries have been her kryptonite. Last June, in her only other trip to San Francisco, it was brutal. We’re talking a nasty 3-for-14 overall from the field and a shocking zero-for-seven from downtown in an 88-77 loss. Ouch. Then, just a month later in a home rematch, she wasn't much better, only hitting 4-for-12. Across three games against Golden State, she’s averaging a mere 14.3 points, shooting a less-than-stellar 14-for-41, which is just 34.1%.

Now, I’m not saying she hasn’t been lights out lately, because she has! The league's top attraction is averaging 25 points in her last three games, draining 13 of 30 from beyond the arc. She even bagged two double-doubles in that stretch, only missing a third by one assist. So, what gives with the Valkyries? Last Friday, the Fever snagged a 90-82 home win against them, and Clark showed up with 22 points on 7-for-15 shooting. That's a step in the right direction, but heading back to enemy territory? That's a different beast entirely, especially with Indiana sitting at 4-2 and Golden State also at 4-2.

Team Momentum and Fresh Faces

The Fever are riding a three-game winning streak, even snatching one of those wins when Clark sat out with a sore back. Talk about clutch! That five-day break was probably a blessing for Clark's back, letting her rest up and, oh yeah, be the grand marshal for the Indianapolis 500. She was back at practice Tuesday, telling reporters that back injuries can be tricky. "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." Good to hear she’s feeling confident, but road games are no joke, and the Fever are about to hit a stretch of four out of five on the road.

Meanwhile, the Valkyries just crushed the Connecticut Sun 97-70 to kick off their four-game homestand. And get this, they unveiled their secret weapon: Juste Jocyte! The No. 5 overall pick from last year's draft, who's been busy with the Lithuanian national team and a Spanish pro squad, finally suited up. She practiced with Golden State for the first time Sunday and then thrilled fans by sinking her first two WNBA shots in the final 4:48 of Monday's victory. Coach Natalie Nakase, the reigning Coach of the Year, was absolutely gushing about the 20-year-old’s debut. Nakase highlighted Jocyte's "confidence" and gave major props to her coaching staff and the players for hyping her up. "You see that type of connection and support and that love immediately; that was amazing," Nakase said. So, the Valkyries are coming into this game with serious momentum and a fresh, confident talent.

This Thursday night showdown in San Francisco is going to be HUGE. Can Clark shake off her San Francisco jitters and keep the Fever's win streak alive on the road? Or will the Valkyries, fresh off a dominant win and with Jocyte looking to make an even bigger splash, keep her cold? You better believe we'll be watching every single possession.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.