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Valkyries Coach Has Strong Words For Caitlin Clark on Sunday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Chris Phelps | Last updated Aug 31, 2025 11:33 PM ET

Caitlin Clark missed her 18th straight game Sunday night as the Indiana Fever played the second stop of their three-game west coast road trip against Natalie Nakase and the Golden State Valkyries. The former Iowa star has now missed 28 games this season, including the Commissioner’s Cup final, because of two groin injuries and a quad injury.

Still, Indiana has managed to stay in the playoff hunt without Clark, leaning on performances from Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell and Lexie Hull, something Nakase has noticed as well.

Ahead of Sunday's game in San Francisco, Nakase was asked how the Fever differ with and without Clark. The first-year coach began with nothing but praise for the All-WNBA point guard.

“Well, I mean, obviously, without Caitlin, the scoring puts a little bit more onus on everyone else because she can shoot obviously from the logo," Nakase said. "Like I said, like she has increased her game on so many levels and obviously her passing has always been there.”

Nakase continued to mention how other players on Indiana have had an impact with Clark out.

"But now with Kelsey Mitchell, I would say Boston and now (Odyssey) Sims," Nakase said. "Adding Sims, she closed the game versus L.A. You have a player of Sims’ experience with not being shy for the big moments. Obviously, Kelsey Mitchell is coming off pin downs, coming off staggers, she's coming off pick-and-rolls. A lot of her shots are within action, but a lot of them also are in transition.

"You have to be mindful of their main players, but at the same time, they're not shy of making the right reads. Now, spacing the floor with Lexie, you have to be aware of her. You can't just leave her because she is shooting not just from three, she's shooting deeper as well. Then obviously they picked up Chloe (Bibby) and they picked up Aerial Powers. It's going to be great to see their faces again.

"We know how dangerous Chloe is and Ariel brings that energy and defensive mentality. The makeup is different for sure, so we had to scout different. A team like that plays hard and plays the right way and is being resilient through all these injuries, you always have to be ready. So tonight is going to be a big mental focus game for us."

Following the Valkyries game, the Fever will finish off their road trip on Tuesday, facing Alyssa Thomas and the Phoenix Mercury at 10 p.m. ET.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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