SAN FRANCISCO — “What was that?” That’s the question on the minds of Indiana Fever fans, players, and coaches after one of the most bizarre, frustrating, and outright embarrassing nights in franchise—and perhaps WNBA—history. In a game that was delayed, disjointed, and ultimately disastrous, the Fever fell to the Golden State Valkyries 63-80 at Chase Center, capping off an evening that will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.

Delays, Delays, and More Delays

The night began with confusion and ended with exasperation. The game, scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m., was delayed by nearly an hour due to technical issues—most notably, a malfunctioning shot clock system that left both teams and officials scrambling for solutions. By the time the ball was finally tipped, fans had already waited over an hour, and the tension in the arena was palpable.

But the chaos didn’t stop there. Throughout the game, repeated reviews, clock malfunctions, and lengthy stoppages turned what should have been a 40-minute contest into a three-hour ordeal. “It’s been three hours since the game was supposed to start,” one fan lamented online. “What was that? Just everything about that. What was that?”

A Nightmare on the Court

If the off-court chaos was bad, the Fever’s on-court performance was somehow worse. The team managed just 63 points against a Valkyries squad not known for its defense, failing to reach 20 points in any quarter. Star center Aaliyah Boston, usually a beacon of consistency, scored just four points—her lowest output of the season—while Kelsey Mitchell, the league’s third-leading scorer, shot a woeful 4-for-14 from the field.

“Our best player was Ariel Powers,” one frustrated fan noted. “Aaliyah Boston scored four points. She had four points. Kelsey Mitchell four of 14. What is wrong with our team? We’re done. We’re cooked, man. We’re cooked.”

The Fever’s offense was lifeless and disjointed. Layups were missed, passes were fumbled, and possessions ended in confusion. Natasha Howard, who started strong, was called for travel after travel in the second half, at one point appearing to simply walk toward her own bench with the ball in hand. “Was she okay today?” a bewildered observer asked. “In the second half, she was literally just wide open and missing layups.”

A Team in Crisis

The loss dropped the Fever to the eighth seed in the standings, and the mood around the team is grim. “We didn’t break 20 points in a single quarter. That’s not good enough,” said one longtime supporter. “Zero quarters where we broke 20 points. Zero quarters where we had 19 points. And we scored 63 points. And this Valkyrie team is not that good on defense.”

The frustration is compounded by questionable roster decisions. The front office let Tammy (last name undisclosed) walk in the offseason—a player who had been a defensive anchor—and kept Demirus Dantis, who has struggled to make an impact. “This front office chose to keep Dantis over Tammy,” one fan vented. “Tammy wasn’t anything spectacular, but she did her role, played defense, caught rebounds, and ran.”

The Fever’s inability to build a balanced, athletic roster is glaring. “How are we simultaneously small, slow, and bad at shooting?” a fan asked. “How do you get the trifecta of all three of those?”

The Valkyries: Not World-Beaters, But Good Enough

To their credit, the Valkyries pounced on the Fever’s woes, jumping out to a 34-14 lead in the first quarter and never looking back. While the Fever mounted a brief comeback, they never seriously threatened. Kate Martin, who is now 7-0 in her career against the Fever, played her role to perfection. Veronica Burton didn’t shoot well but dished out 13 assists, and Illiana Rupert continued to prove herself as one of the league’s best stretch bigs.

The Valkyries’ role players did exactly what was needed—and nothing more. “Kate Martin plays her role. Veronica Burton didn’t have a good shooting game, but she had 13 assists. Kayla Charles knows her role. Illiana Rupert is one of the best stretch bigs in the entire WNBA,” a rival scout noted.

Playoff Picture: Fever Clinging to Hope

Despite the debacle, the Fever are still clinging to the eighth and final playoff spot, but their path forward is perilous. “We’re eighth. We’re the eight seed. We’re down to eight and we’re facing the Mercury and we’re probably losing that game,” one fan predicted. “We realistically have to go and win two of our last games to not end up in the eight seed.”

With the Valkyries likely to win two more games, the Fever must go at least 2-4 down the stretch to avoid falling out of the playoff picture. “We’ve really got to go two and four to stay out of the eight seed. But really, I think we’re safe in the playoffs. I hope we’re safe in the playoffs. I think we are. But I don’t know.”

A Franchise at a Crossroads

The Indiana Fever’s season has been a rollercoaster, but last night’s game felt like rock bottom. The team’s resilience and character have never been in question, but the talent gap is becoming impossible to ignore. “I want to give so much credit to every single one of these Fever players as people,” a longtime supporter said. “But how do we simultaneously end up small, slow, and bad at shooting? It’s incredible we’re even in the playoff hunt.”

As the regular season winds down, the Fever’s margin for error is razor thin. The front office faces tough questions about roster construction, player development, and the direction of the franchise. For now, fans are left to hope that this was a one-off disaster—and not a sign of things to come.

Final Thoughts

For the Indiana Fever, last night’s loss to the Valkyries was more than just another defeat—it was a wake-up call. From the technical failures and endless delays to the lifeless offense and questionable roster moves, the game was a perfect storm of everything that can go wrong in professional basketball.

The question now is simple: Can the Fever right the ship before it’s too late, or will this season be remembered as the one that got away?