Veronica Burton Said a Lot About Caitlin Clark After Dropping 25 Points on Fever Star
Veronica Burton led the Golden State Valkyries to a 90-88 win over Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever on Thursday. The intense game at Chase Center marked the second physical clash between the two teams in one week.
On May 22, Clark lowered her shoulder into Burton while setting a screen near the three-point line. The contact, which occurred in the fourth quarter, knocked the Valkyries star to the floor. Referees reviewed the play and gave Clark a Flagrant 1 foul. Despite the incident, the Fever secured a 90-82 victory over the Valkyries last Friday.
Thursday's rematch in San Francisco maintained the same intensity throughout. Burton made things difficult for the Fever star all night while delivering a historic performance. The 25-year-old Valkyries guard finished with a season-best 25 points, six rebounds and a career-high five blocks.
In the press conference after the game, Burton admitted she enjoys the challenge of facing Clark. However, she credited the team's effort for slowing down Clark and the Fever offense.
"Yeah, for sure. It's fun competing against anyone," Burton said. "We have the best players in the world in this league, and every matchup, every single night, is personal for me when it comes to whoever I'm trying to guard.
"But we talk a lot about team defense. It's not a one-on-one matchup. I'm never out there by myself. I trust everyone behind me. I trust our rotations and our shifts. And it wasn't just me out there."
Despite guarding multiple players throughout the game, Burton said she remained focused on disrupting a playmaker like Clark.
"I was on Kelsey (Mitchell) at times. I was on Lexie (Hull) at times. But she's (Clark) obviously someone you have to pay a lot of attention to," Burton continued. "You have to know where she wants to get to her spots and try to disrupt her as much as possible.
"She's also a great passer. So it's not just about keying in on her scoring. It's about understanding how she can get other people involved and trying to be disruptive in all aspects of the game."
Burton became the first player since Diana Taurasi in 2008 to record at least 25 points, five rebounds and five blocks in a single game. Three of those blocks came on Clark's shot attempts, including a crucial layup in the fourth quarter. That defensive stop preserved the Valkyries' slim 73-69 lead and stalled an Indiana comeback.
Clark struggled throughout the game against Golden State's defense. The 24-year-old Fever guard shot just 3-of-12 from the floor and 2-of-6 beyond the arc. She finished with 16 points and five turnovers.
Clark also made history during the game by becoming the fastest player in WNBA history to surpass 1,000 points and 500 assists. She achieved the feat in 59 games. However, the milestone was not enough to help the Fever win.
The back-to-back physical matchups have fueled a rising rivalry between Indiana and Golden State. The win moved the Valkyries to 5-2 this season, while the Fever fell to 4-3.
Related: Stephanie White Has Take on Valkyries Crowd After Fever Loss
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 5:33 PM.