Latest news with #KaylaThornton
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
WNBA Announces Historic News After Valkyries Defeat Caitlin Clark, Fever
WNBA Announces Historic News After Valkyries Defeat Caitlin Clark, Fever originally appeared on Athlon Sports. It has been quite a run for the Golden State Valkyries thus far in their inaugural season in the WNBA. On Thursday, they marked arguably their biggest win of the campaign after taking down Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever at Chase Center, 88-77. Advertisement The Valkyries were coming off a disappointing 80-71 loss against Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings on Tuesday, and they needed a bounce-back win on Thursday. They did just that by defeating the Fever, who entered the matchup on a two-game winning streak. It was veteran guard Kayla Thornton who led the way for Golden State in this one with 16 points and six rebounds. Clark, on the other hand, was held to just 11 points after shooting 3-of-14 from the field. Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) handles the ball against Golden State Valkyries forward Kayla Thornton (5). Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images Golden State improved to 6-6 after Thursday's victory, which prompted a historic announcement from the WNBA via social media. "Now 6-6... matching the Detroit Shock for 2nd best expansion team start 💫" the league posted on Instagram. The 1998 Detroit Shock no longer stand alone as the record holders for the best start by an expansion team in WNBA history. They now share this title with the Valkyries, who have an opportunity to set a new record in their next game. Advertisement The Golden State Valkyries can rewrite the history books again by going 7-6 if they are able to defeat the 2-10 Connecticut Sun on Sunday. It's going to be another home game for the Valkyries, too, which means that they will get a chance to make history in front of their passionate home fans. Related: Indiana Fever Assistant Issues Statement on Stephanie White's Sudden Absence Related: Indiana Fever Make Historic Announcement During Valkyries Game Related: Indiana Fever React to Caitlin Clark's Outfit for Valkyries Game This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Valkyries Had Three Words for Caitlin Clark and Fever After Big Win
Valkyries Had Three Words for Caitlin Clark and Fever After Big Win originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Indiana Fever entered Thursday's game against the Golden State Valkyries as heavy favorites. They were on a two-game winning run, even recently booking a ticket to the WNBA Commissioner's Cup final. Advertisement However, the Valkyries spoiled their streak as it was just getting started, taking down Caitlin Clark and company, 88-77. Kayla Thornton led the way for Golden State with 16 points and six rebounds, while Tiffany Hayes added 14 points, three boards and five assists. Defense played a big role in the Valkyries' victory, as they forced the Fever to commit 16 turnovers. They were also more physical defensively, limiting their visitors to 8-of-29 shooting from deep. Clark shot just 3-of-11 for the Fever, further highlighting how much the team struggled. The All-Star guard finished with 11 points, although she still recorded seven rebounds and nine assists. Advertisement Following the game, the Valkyries couldn't help but rub their win in the Fever players' faces. On social media, as they posted the final scores, the team also included a rather savage caption. "now you know," the Valkyries wrote. For those not familiar, the phrase "Now You Know" is the Fever's slogan for the 2025 campaign. Before the season started, the franchise unveiled the new campaign, explaining that it reaffirms "Indiana as the epicenter of basketball and women's sports." The Valkyries have every reason to be happy about their win, though. The 2025 campaign is the team's debut season as the WNBA's newest franchise, and they are already doing well, improving to 6-6 after their latest victory. Advertisement According to the WNBA, that is the second-best start for an expansion team in history, with the Valkyries joining the Detroit Shock. Indiana Fever star Catilin Clark and Golden State Valkyries guard Kate Ruszkowski / Eakin Howard - Imagn Images Golden State's WNBA franchise was awarded in 2023, and last May 2024, the team name and logo were revealed. Now, the Valkyries are already a full-fledged WNBA team that appears ready to contend for a playoff spot. Related: Kate Martin's Move Against Sophie Cunningham Leaves WNBA in Disbelief This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
WNBA Makes Kayla Thornton Announcement After Fever-Valkyries Game
WNBA Makes Kayla Thornton Announcement After Fever-Valkyries Game originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Golden State Valkyries made all sorts of waves on Thursday night by taking down Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever in a tightly-contested affair. Advertisement The Valkyries held down the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year to just 11 points on 3-of-14 shooting, which ultimately led to a massive 88-77 win for the Valkyries. Golden State needed to turn in a big-time performance against the Fever, who were coming off the heels of two straight wins. The Valkyries got just that from WNBA champion guard Kayla Thornton, who led the way for her team with 16 points on 5-of-11 from the field, six rebounds, a steal and five triples in just 20 minutes of action. After the game, the WNBA took to social media to announce Thornton as the Top Performer of the contest. It wasn't just Thornton who balled out for the Valkyries in this one, though. It was a total team effort for Golden State, which saw five players score in double digits. Three of those players came off the bench, with Tiffany Hayes (14), Chloe Bibby (12) and Laeticia Amihere (10) all chipping in. Advertisement The Valkyries are now 6-6 after this win, and they have tied the Fever for the No. 6 spot in the WNBA. Up next for Golden State is another home game against the 2-10 Connecticut Sun on Sunday, which will be followed by a marquee matchup against the defending champions, the New York Liberty, on Wednesday. Golden State Valkyries guard Tiffany Hayes (15) speaks to teammates after their game against the Los Angeles Yamashita-Imagn Images After their big win against the Fever, however, there's no denying that there's a lot of momentum for the Valkyries right now. Related: Indiana Fever Make Historic Announcement During Valkyries Game Related: WNBA Issues Statement on Caitlin Clark, Kate Martin Before Fever-Valkyries Game Related: Warriors Player Turns Heads After Taunting Caitlin Clark During Fever-Valkyries Game This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Fox News
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Fox News
Caitlin Clark has rare shooting woes as Fever fall to Valkyries following fiery Sun matchup
The Indiana Fever did not have to come to Caitlin Clark's defense this time, but the Golden State Valkyries did not make it easy on her on Thursday night. Clark, coming off a game that involved a lot of extracurricular activity after the whistle between herself and the Connecticut Sun, was not her usual sharp-shooting self in the Fever's 88-77 loss to the Valkyries on the road. Clark shot just 3-of-14 from the field, including her seven failed three-point attempts going through the hoop, as the Fever ended up blowing a 13-point lead in this game to fall to 6-6 on the year. Clark tallied 11 points, nine assists and seven rebounds, while turning the ball over six times to Golden State. While Clark struggled from beyond the arc, her teammates did not fare that much better. As a team, the Fever shot just 8-of-29 from three-point land, with Sophie Cunningham, who had been dubbed Clark's "bodyguard" on the court after the previous game against the Sun, being the only one to hit more than one of her attempts. Meanwhile, the Valkyries, led by Kayla Thornton's 16-point night with five three-pointers, now own the same 6-6 record. Golden State also saw major contributions off the bench, with Tiffany Hayes (14 points, five assists, three rebounds), Chloe Bibby (12 points, three rebounds, one assist) and Laeticia Amihere (10 points, three rebounds, three assists) all helping their team overcome a double-digit deficit in the end. For Indiana, Aliyah Boston led the team with 17 points, while Kelsey Mitchell (16 points) and Natasha Howard (13 points) all landed in double digits in that category. However, turnovers played a large factor in the Fever losing their lead, as the Valkyries forced 17 total while committing just seven. This uncharacteristic performance from Clark specifically comes after getting poked in the eye and being shoved to the ground in a very physical WNBA Commissioner's Cup game against the Sun on Tuesday night. Clark was being guarded by Jacy Sheldon when the Sun guard poked her in the eye, and the Fever superstar retaliated by pushing her away. That led to the Sun's Marina Mabrey running over and shoving Clark to the ground while her back was turned. A skirmish broke out, but it would not be the end for both teams. Later in the game, Cunningham wrapped up Sheldon while she was trying to score a basket in the fourth quarter, and it escalated to the point when both players got ejected after their physical altercation underneath the hoop. Indiana ended up winning the game, 88-71, with Clark totaling 20 points and six assists. It was just her second game since returning from injury. However, this certainly is not the way Clark or the Fever wanted to respond after that chippy game against the Sun. Their next opportunity to get back in the win column will be Sunday against the Las Vegas Aces. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Washington Post
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Kayla Thornton scores 16 points as Valkyries rally past Caitlin Clark, Fever 88-77
SAN FRANCISCO — Kayla Thornton hit two key 3-pointers over the final 4:57 and scored 16 points to go with six rebounds, and the Golden State Valkyries rallied past Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever 88-77 on Thursday night. Clark had 11 points, nine assists and seven rebounds and her layup with 4:12 remaining pulled Indiana within two points — but Golden State had an answer to each threat. A raucous crowd roared as the Valkyries (6-6) sold out their sixth straight home game to start the season, a matchup circled on the calendar for the expansion franchise from the day the schedule was released. Monique Billings rebounded her own missed 3 and scored with 3:24 left. Veronica Burton hit a 3 from the top of the arc with 5:49 to play helping spark the comeback then scored again in the closing minute. Tiffany Hayes made a go-ahead layup with 8 minutes left on the way to 14 points and Chloe Bibby scored the next time down off Hayes' baseball pass to put Golden State up 64-61. Aliyah Boston had 17 points and 12 rebounds on a night Clark struggled to find her shooting touch and finished 3 for 14 and 0 of 7 on 3s. Clark missed her initial six shots before a layup at the 4:12 mark of the second quarter. Boston beat the halftime buzzer with a 3 to put the Fever ahead 44-38 at the break. Golden State ran out to a 7-2 lead and Indiana called timeout then answered with an 14-0 burst as the Valkyries went 6:20 without scoring and missed 13 straight shots. There were no skirmishes this time two days after the Fever's 88-71 home win against Connecticut featured three late ejections and further discipline . Clark's old Iowa teammate, Kate Martin, contributed nine points and five rebounds off the bench a night after they went to dinner in San Francisco. Fever coach Stephanie White missed the game for personal reasons and Austin Kelly filled in as acting head coach. The Fever visit the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday, while the Valkyries will host Connecticut on Sunday. ___ AP WNBA:
