Caitlin Clark Draws Coast-to-Coast Crowd in San Francisco Showdown with Golden State Valkyries

SAN FRANCISCO — They came from Oregon, Texas, Indiana, and beyond. On Thursday night, fans from across the country flooded into Chase Center to witness one of the most highly anticipated games of the WNBA season: Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever taking on the Golden State Valkyries.

And while many attendees proudly supported the Bay Area’s new expansion franchise, there was no hiding the real draw for most of the crowd — Caitlin Clark.

For Mary Barker, a longtime WNBA supporter and former fan of the now-defunct Sacramento Monarchs, the night was a dream come true.

“I’m absolutely rooting for the Valkyries to win,” Barker said with a bright smile as she posed outside the arena in Valkyries gear. “But I love Caitlin Clark too. You want a healthy, clean game. No drama — just great basketball and sportsmanship. But yeah, I’m sticking with the Valkyries until the end.”

That kind of dual allegiance — loyal to the home team but starstruck by Clark — was a recurring theme among the 18,000-plus in attendance.

‘Our Superpower’

Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase acknowledged the crowd’s electric presence after her team’s 88-77 win over Indiana, calling the fans “our superpower.”

“They know exactly when to yell, when to scream, and they get loud from the jump,” Nakase said. “They cheer until the final buzzer. That’s our edge.”

For some fans, like a couple from Sacramento who once cheered for the Monarchs and now proudly wear Valkyries season passes, their attendance was personal. Both women sported Indiana Fever jerseys with Clark’s iconic No. 22 stitched across the back.

“We’ve got season tickets for the Valkyries,” one said, “but honestly, Caitlin Clark is the reason we got back into the WNBA in the first place. That said, we’re obviously Valkyries fans too. We’re just so excited to be here.”

A Divisive Superstar

The attention surrounding Clark isn’t always celebratory. She’s become a cultural lightning rod — praised by some as the WNBA’s savior and criticized by others for the very attention she brings.

Comparisons to NBA greats like Michael Jordan and Stephen Curry were floated throughout the arena, particularly in how defenders treat her on the court — often with a level of physicality some fans say crosses the line.

“I don’t get why the WNBA is letting this bullying happen,” said John Kosich of Stockton, who was gifted a Clark jersey and game tickets for Father’s Day. “She’s done nothing but good for this league. Everyone’s flying charter this year because of her. The league was worth $90 million last year — now it’s $360 million. Come on. You’ve got to protect the golden goose.”

But not everyone agreed.

“Is she being targeted? Maybe. Who knows?” said Bridget C., attending her first WNBA game. “But you deal with that when you go pro, right? That’s part of learning to play at this level.”

The Griner Clip Controversy

In recent weeks, the question of how opposing players treat Clark has dominated headlines and social media feeds. At the center of one viral moment was Atlanta Dream center Brittney Griner, whose muted comment during a game against Indiana was captured on ESPN cameras — but not microphones.

Some fans speculated that Griner had uttered a racial slur directed at Clark, calling her a “f—ing white girl.” Others argued that the moment was misunderstood and exploited for controversy. Griner later clarified she was complaining about an official’s call, not speaking about Clark at all.

Still, for some in the Chase Center crowd, the clip remained a sore point.

“I’m not saying it’s racial,” Kosich said carefully, “but Griner’s lucky she’s not still in Russia. Let’s leave it at that. We all saw what she said… but why not just appreciate what Clark brings to the league and move on?”

Others, like Barker, didn’t see race as the main issue.

“I don’t look at it that way,” she said. “I think it’s about the impact. You have this one player coming into the league and completely shifting the energy of the game. That’s going to ruffle feathers.”

Clark’s Magnetic Presence

Regardless of where they stood on the debates swirling around Clark, fans were unanimous in one thing: she brings excitement. Even those who came to boo were glued to every dribble, pass, and shot.

“She’s entertainment,” said Barker. “Pure entertainment. I was just thrilled to be in this packed arena watching her live.”

One fan, Kyle S., quipped that he made the trip just to verify that Clark “wasn’t an AI hologram or something.”

And while many came to honor the phenomenon that is Caitlin Clark, at least one family came with different priorities.

Lewis and Merteen Thornton traveled from El Paso, Texas, to watch their daughter, Kayla Thornton, play for the Valkyries. When asked if playing against Clark meant anything special, Lewis didn’t hesitate.

“Doesn’t mean a thing. Nothing,” he said with a smile. “We’re here for the Valks. Clark’s just another player.”

A Defining Night for the WNBA

In many ways, the night encapsulated the current state of the WNBA: a league experiencing exponential growth, fueled in large part by a single rookie who’s both adored and criticized, elevated and scrutinized.

Caitlin Clark didn’t notch a win Thursday night. But once again, she drew the biggest crowd, sparked the loudest conversations, and reminded everyone that, love her or hate her, she’s the heartbeat of this WNBA season.

And for the thousands who poured into Chase Center — and the millions watching from home — that was more than enough reason to show up.