Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever traveled west to take on the Golden State Valkyries on Thursday night, and it’s safe to say that they didn’t get a warm reception from the home crowd.
During Thursday night’s game, Clark in particular received some rather hostile attention from the Golden State crowd as she was showered with boos from the fans almost every time she touched the ball in the 90-88 loss to the Valkyries.
One fan shared a video of the environment on social media. In the video, Clark can be seen taking the ball up the court as the point guard. All while she holds the ball, the fans in attendance booed her. The arena then erupted in cheers when she drove into the lane and lost the ball while attempting a layup.
“The Valkyries crowd is booing the hell out of Caitlin Clark every time she touches the ball. Every game is a home game for the Fever? Not in the Bay Area,” the fan wrote in the caption of the video.
This cold reception comes about a week after a tense showdown between the Fever and the Valkeyries in Indianapolis. During last week’s game, Clark was at the center of a few heated exchanges with Golden State players, the most high-profile of which involved the Fever superstar taunting Golden State guard Tiffany Hayes. Hayes then responded with some strong words of her own before stoking the controversy with some social media comments after the game.
While Clark said before the game that she had no “bad blood” with the Valkyries or any player on the Golden State roster, it’s pretty clear that the Golden State fans did not necessarily feel the same way about Clark.
Fans Weigh In
The chorus of boos from the Golden State crowd led to mixed reactions from fans. Some saw it as disrespectful, given everything Clark has meant to the league since she joined in 2024. Others saw it as a sign of respect for a great player.
“I’m fine with this. But Caitlin should not go out to sign autographs for them either,” one fan wrote in a post on X.
“ALOT of these markets are over it….. The OGs that have been there forever want their home floor back when the casuals try to invade,” another fan commented.
“Why were they lining up for autographs to act like this? Not complaining- they should boo. But she shouldn’t sign for them either,” someone else added.
“U do realize a player who gets boos means the ultimate respect as a superstar !! Kobe and MJ know the feeling,” a fan wrote.
“The ironic thing is… they would not even have a team without CC in the league. expansion because the iron is hot. it is not all CC but its majority,” another fan pointed out.
“I love it. It’s great for basketball,” someone else argued.
A player as popular as Clark is going to elicit some sort of reaction everywhere she plays, and she probably wouldn’t have it any other way.
About Dave Kelsey
Contributing author to The Comeback.