The Valkyries Are Dominating the West, Making the Storm's Road Look Brutal

Okay, so we just saw the Golden State Valkyries pull out a super tight 90-88 win against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever last night. On one hand, it was an absolutely wild game, the kind of gritty battle you love to see in the WNBA. On the other hand, for us Seattle fans? It's just another reminder of how tough the Western Conference is, with the Valkyries now 5-2, tied for the top spot. Meanwhile, our beloved Storm are sitting at 3-5, rocking that last place spot in the West. You can't help but watch games like this and wonder when our green and blue are gonna start playing with that same fire and consistency.

Burton and Williams Light Up the Scoreboard in a Grind-It-Out Win

This game was a total slugfest, with the Valkyries digging deep to secure the W at home. Veronica Burton was an absolute beast, dropping 25 points, snagging six rebounds, and throwing up a career-best five blocked shots. Gabby Williams was right there with her, adding 19 points, six rebounds, and six assists. This Golden State squad really leaned into their defense, tallying 11 blocks as a team, with Kiah Stokes personally shutting things down with four of them. It was back and forth, with Clark even hitting a 3-pointer late to cut it to 81-80, and Aliyah Boston putting the Fever ahead right after. But the Valkyries just held on, with Janelle Salaun even coming off the bench to chip in a massive 19 points and seven boards. They really earned this one.

Clark's Struggles and a Heated Rivalry

Let's talk about Caitlin Clark. She finished with 16 points, six assists, and four rebounds, but man, she struggled to find her rhythm, shooting just 3 for 12 from the field. It felt like deja vu, honestly, since her last game at Chase Center back in June saw her go 3 for 14. She had a couple of crucial turnovers late in this game too, which really hurt the Fever when they were trailing. The crowd at Chase Center was absolutely ruthless, booing her every time she touched the ball. This isn't just a regular matchup either. These teams clearly have bad blood after their last game, a 90-82 Fever win, where Clark and Tiffany Hayes got heated. This Valkyries victory was a redemption game, no doubt, and it just showed how much every win means in this league.

What This Means for the West (and for Us)

So, the Valkyries keep climbing, now sitting pretty at 5-2. The Fever's three-game winning streak is snapped, and they'll try to bounce back against the Portland Fire on Saturday. The Valkyries get to host the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday, which will be another massive test in the West. But for us here in Seattle, the real focus is on our Storm. We're sitting at 3-5, on an L1 streak, and we're heading to Toronto to face the Tempo. It's early in the season, sure, but these Western Conference teams like Golden State are already setting a high bar. Our Storm need to find that fight and start stringing some wins together. We gotta keep pushing, Emerald City. Let's get it!

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