Indianapolis, IN — In a highly anticipated matchup on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, the Indiana Fever hosted the Golden State Valkyries at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The game marked the return of star guard Caitlin Clark, who had missed the previous five games due to a left groin injury. Both teams entered the contest with identical 9-9 records, looking to gain an an edge in the standings on what was dubbed “Kids Day” at the arena.
Prior to the game, there was considerable buzz surrounding Clark’s return. Fever coach Stephanie White had indicated on Monday that Clark was on track to play, following a structured return-to-play protocol. White expressed optimism, stating, “I hope so… this was really the first time we’ve been able to get around as live action.” Betting odds, according to BetMGM, had the Fever favored by 7.5 points, with an over/under of 162.5 total points. ESPN’s matchup predictor gave Indiana a 74.0% chance of winning. The game was broadcast on NBA TV and WTHR Channel 13, and available to stream on Fubo (IndyStar, NBC Sports).
The Fever started strong in the first quarter, building an early nine-point lead. Kelsey Mitchell led Indiana with six points, while Caitlin Clark, in her first seven minutes back on the court, contributed five points, including a 3-pointer from beyond the arc. However, the Valkyries closed the quarter on a 7-0 run, narrowing Indiana’s lead to 23-21 by the end of the first frame (IndyStar, Hawkeyes Wire).
The momentum shifted dramatically in the second quarter. Golden State dominated, outscoring the Fever 20-9, turning a deficit into a nine-point lead at halftime, 41-32. Indiana’s offense struggled significantly, shooting just 32.4% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc, while committing 10 turnovers. Aari McDonald led the Fever with seven points at the half. For the Valkyries, Veronica Burton was a key contributor, scoring eight points with two made 3-pointers (IndyStar, Hawkeyes Wire).
The Valkyries continued their strong play into the third quarter, opening with a 6-0 run and extending their lead to 47-32. Despite the growing deficit, the Fever mounted an 8-0 run, cutting the lead to seven points (55-48) with just over three minutes left in the quarter. During this run, Caitlin Clark nailed another 3-pointer, this time from 34 feet out, and also provided an assist to Damiris Dantas. However, Golden State quickly responded with a 9-0 run, fueled by two more 3-pointers from Veronica Burton, to push their lead back to 13 points, ending the third quarter with the Valkyries ahead 64-51 (IndyStar, Hawkeyes Wire).
The fourth quarter saw the Valkyries maintain control. With 4:35 remaining in the game, Golden State had outscored Indiana 9-4 in the final frame, extending their lead to 73-55. The Fever’s shooting woes persisted, with the team hitting just 31% from the floor and 6-of-24 from the 3-point line. In contrast, the Valkyries had connected on 11-of-28 from distance (IndyStar, Hawkeyes Wire). While a final score for this specific July 9th game was not provided in the live updates, the trajectory indicated a challenging outcome for the Fever.
Caitlin Clark’s return saw her contribute six assists by the end of the third quarter, showcasing her playmaking ability. However, her shooting was inconsistent, reflecting the team’s overall struggles. Before this game, Clark averaged 18.2 points, 8.9 assists, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.6 steals in nine games, shooting 29.5% from three-point range (IndyStar).
The Indiana Fever’s starting lineup for the game included Aari McDonald, Kelsey Mitchell, Caitlin Clark, Natasha Howard, and Aliyah Boston. The team will look to rebound in their upcoming games, with their next matchups scheduled against the Dream on Friday, July 11, and the Wings on Sunday, July 13 (IndyStar).
