The Golden State Valkyries stunned the WNBA not only by making the playoffs in their first two seasons of existence, but going on to win its championship at the end of year two.
The Valkyries’ seven-game series win over the Atlanta Dream in this year’s Finals heralds a new era in the WNBA. Defense rules. Systems rule. Depth and coaching matter significantly.
For the Indiana Fever, improvements in all of these departments are needed to take the next step in 2027.
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Indiana’s superstar guard Caitlin Clark spoke to Kylie Kelce on the latter’s “Not Gonna Lie” podcast. In the latest episode published Tuesday, Clark revealed her admiration for the Valkyries and their bold championship vision — centered on owner Joe Lacob’s promise to bring a championship to the Bay Area, and to secure it quickly.
“I remember their owner, he literally said on stage ‘We’re going to win a championship in five years or less’ and I was like, ‘I love that!'” Clark told Kelce. “And here we are, two years later, and I’m like ‘do I love that? Because I’m not playing, and they are.'”
Caitlin Clark on the Valkyries early championship aspirations: “I remember their owner…he literally said on stage ‘We’re going to win a championship in 5 years or less’ and I was like I love that! And here we are, like two years later I’m like well ‘Do I love that?’ because I’m not playing but they are…” 😂💀 (via @nglwithkylie)
— Kyle Ingram (@SnapshotKyle) November 3, 2026
Though Clark’s comments were tongue-in-cheek, there is more than a kernel of truth about them.
The Valkyries’ meteoric rise from expansion club to 2026 champions comes while Clark is still searching for her first playoff series win.
The Fever reached the WNBA semifinals in 2025, but Indiana did so while Clark, Sophie Cunningham and others were out with injuries. The Fever has not won a title since 2012, though they did claim the Commissioner’s Cup in 2025.
While Clark played the best basketball of her career in 2026, the pressure is ramping up on the Fever to play in the Finals — or win a championship — very soon.
And that pressure is being cranked up by none other than Clark herself.
