The Indiana Fever opened their 2026 WNBA campaign with a hard-fought 90–82 victory over the expansion Golden State Valkyries on May 23 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Led by a dominant fourth-quarter surge, the Fever spoiled the Valkyries' regular-season debut and gave the home crowd a night to remember.

Match Overview

From the opening tip, both teams showed why they are among the most intriguing storylines of the season. Indiana, a young and rising squad, leaned on its blend of speed and perimeter shooting. Golden State, playing their first-ever WNBA regular-season game, kept the contest tight through three quarters behind aggressive defense and balanced scoring.

The Fever trailed by as many as seven points in the third quarter before turning the game around in the final period. Indiana outscored the Valkyries 28–15 in the fourth quarter, shooting 62 percent from the field and forcing four critical turnovers.

Key Moments

• Third-quarter response: After Golden State pushed the lead to 62–55 with 3:18 left in the third, Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell hit back-to-back three-pointers to cut the deficit to one possession heading into the final frame.
• Fourth-quarter run: Indiana opened the fourth on a 14–3 run, capped by a steal-and-score from NaLyssa Smith that gave the Fever an 80–73 lead with 4:21 remaining.
• Clutch free throws: With the Valkyries trying to foul their way back into the game, the Fever went 8-for-10 from the line in the last two minutes to seal the win.

Standout Performers

• Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana): A game-high 26 points on 10-of-18 shooting, including 4-of-7 from beyond the arc. Mitchell also dished out 5 assists and grabbed 4 rebounds.
• NaLyssa Smith (Indiana): The versatile forward recorded a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds, providing a strong inside presence.
• Jackie Young (Golden State): In her Valkyries debut, Young scored 22 points and added 7 assists, showing why she was the centerpiece of the expansion draft.
• Iliana Rupert (Golden State): Dominated the boards with 14 rebounds and chipped in 10 points for a double-double in defeat.

Tactical Story

The Fever’s defensive adjustments in the second half proved decisive. After allowing Golden State to shoot 48 percent in the first half, Indiana switched to a zone defense that disrupted the Valkyries' rhythm. Golden State committed nine of their 14 turnovers in the fourth quarter alone, and the Fever converted those into 12 fast-break points.

Offensively, Indiana spread the floor effectively, with four players scoring in double figures. The Fever’s ball movement generated 21 assists on 32 made field goals, a sign of the team’s growing chemistry under head coach Christie Sides.

Table and Season Impact

With the win, the Fever start the 2026 season at 1–0, while the Valkyries fall to 0–1. For Indiana, this victory provides early momentum in a competitive Eastern Conference. Golden State, meanwhile, showed flashes of promise despite the loss and will look to bounce back in their next matchup against the Dallas Wings.