Caitlin Clark's saluting the Valkyries' championship—so where does the Fever's own climb go from here? It's Indiana Fever Daily Podcast. Plus, Raven Johnson reacts to Angel Reese's post after the Finals loss—what caught her attention? First, Clark's salute.
From Ben Strauss at ClutchPoints:
Fever guard Caitlin Clark heaped praise on the Valkyries for winning a WNBA championship in their second season of existence. “What Golden State's been able to do in, you know, such a short period of time, like two years, and to be playing in the Finals like that's a win in itself,” Clark said via Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce. “Not many expansion teams can have those sort of expectations.”
ClutchPoints went with Caitlin Clark “breaks silence,” and the actual moment is her joking with Kylie Kelce about having to watch Golden State win. She congratulated them! Let her be a little jealous of the team holding the trophy. The detail that lands is Joe Lacob setting a five-year championship target and the Valkyries getting there in year two. Clark gave that achievement its due. For Indiana, coming off a first-round loss to Las Vegas, Golden State’s timeline is impressive—and a lousy excuse to assume your own climb will be automatic. Year two! I can applaud that and hate watching somebody else celebrate. Sophie Cunningham congratulated Gabby Williams, too; these Fever players can give Golden State credit without enjoying their own early exit.
From Ayomide Adeduyite at Yahoo Sports:
A day later, Reese shared an emotional season-ending message on Instagram, reflecting on the experience and making it clear that she intends to return stronger. The post drew several reactions from colleagues and fans, including Indiana Fever guard Raven Johnson, who showed her support in the comments, responding with heart emojis. Reese also thanked her teammates, supporters and the Atlanta community, while reminding everyone that her championship ambitions remain alive.
Raven Johnson leaving hearts under Angel Reese’s season-ending post—that’s a friend checking in after a brutal loss. Please let the heart emojis survive without turning them into a Fever personnel meeting. Ayomide Adeduyite’s Yahoo Sports story describes a friendship between Johnson and Reese. And Reese has plenty to process: Atlanta gave up a nine-point second-half lead in Game Seven, even after a season in which she averaged 16.4 points and 12.1 rebounds. That nine-point lead would haunt me. But 521 rebounds—a single-season record, per that report—gives Reese something substantial to build on. Johnson can support her friend, and I can still want Indiana to make her next playoff trip miserable. Everybody’s allowed both.
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