Caitlin Clark Left With Mixed Emotions After Special George Kittle Encounter in Valkyries-Fever Game

When Indy entered Chase Center to take on the Golden State Valkyries, the rarest of rare moments happened. No, it wasn’t history in the making, but the heated contest for playoff positioning quickly shifted to technical troubles. Still, Caitlin Clark managed to find a way out! The Sunday night game was halted multiple times due to a malfunction stemming from a power outage. At first, it occurred at the 9:25 mark in the opening quarter when the clock failed to reset after a missed Valks shot. But when play resumed, it was halted again just a minute later. Despite several attempts to fix the problem, officials eventually called a 19-minute pause, forcing some players back into the locker room.

“We can’t play with that,” CC summed up the frustration best. After all, she’s had a front-row seat to such malfunctions that can ruin everything. During the 2024 playoff opener against the Sun, Clark and the Fever were hit with a series of questionable calls. But the real chaos came from the shot clock. On three separate occasions in the first half, the clock just didn’t start when Indiana grabbed possession. The result? Unnecessary stoppages that made their usually lightning-fast transition game feel like watching a sloth try to sprint – hardly the up-tempo style they’re known for. So, obviously, she was annoyed that her mates lost momentum due to the delay.

But as CC, sidelined for the 18th game due to a right groin injury, made her way to the locker room, she spotted San Francisco 49ers star tight end George Kittle and his wife Claire, who were sitting courtside. And in just a couple of minutes, she was sharing hugs and smiling with the guests she had on the sidelines. Though it wasn’t just the Kittles.

Caitlin Clark with George Kittle and wife. pic.twitter.com/I8KiuL9c7Q

— CCFC- (@sohali2012) September 1, 2025

49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk and his wife Kristin, were also courtside, sharing the chance to meet Indiana’s superstar sensation. But for George and Claire, this was more than a fan encounter. All three—Clark, George, and Claire—share a deep Iowa bond as proud Hawkeyes alums. Claire herself once suited up for Iowa basketball. So whenever the couple heads back to Iowa City, supporting the black and gold is a must. She, along with George, was there during March Madness, when Iowa hosted West Virginia at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in 2024. In fact, that’s where the Kittles first felt the electric atmosphere former Hawkeyes sensation brought to collegiate hoops—and even got to meet her in person.

“We were hanging out in the training room after the game just to get away from the crowd a little bit…She comes in, hugs all the athletic trainers, talks to everybody, talks to us a little bit, and you just see how much people care for her. She has this incredible reputation that she’s built day in and day out. So, she’s done that, and just so excited for her.” he shared back in April 2024.

But a year has passed since then, and the connection between Kittles and CC isn’t just about Iowa anymore. Now, the couple catches up with CC at games quite frequently. Just last month, George met again to swap Hawkeye memories and even crossed paths at the American Century Championship golf tournament in Lake Tahoe. “Caitlin’s a dog. She couldn’t be any nicer of a person. She always takes her time for everybody. I think when you go from being a college student to being one of the most popular people on the planet, I think she handles it incredibly well. She always has. She’s an ultimate competitor,” he told Fox News Digital in July.

And yes, he’s not falling short of being a fan. As for her treatment on the court, Kittle sidestepped a tad. But he later admitted that CC “handles whatever is thrown her way incredibly well and with the highest grace… Just always proud of her and proud to say that she’s a Hawkeye,” Kittle added.

So, despite everything, the three Iowa stars shared another courtside memory, thanks to an unlikely shot clock malfunction. But what happened next?

The shot clock malfunction cost a win to the Fever!

After much delay, the game continued, and GVS pushed it through until they beat Indy. At the end, it was a 75-63 win for the Valks that moved them closer to a playoff berth in their first season. The team shot 7-8 on three-pointers in the first quarter and led by 20 points before finishing 12-for-19 behind the arc. All this was enough to get the Valks ahead of LA, standing alongside Fever and Seattle for the playoff seeding. But Head Coach Stephanie White? She knew what she would have changed if she had a time machine.

When asked postgame, “The shot clock issues in the first quarter, do you think that affected the rhythm of the game? How do you try to help?” Stephanie White didn’t hesitate to send the blame Tissot’s way: “It certainly affected the rhythm of the game. I don’t know if it affected the readiness at all. But yeah, I mean it’s disruptive. It’s not something that you expect to see.”

Natasha Howard, on the other hand, doesn’t really think so. “That type of stuff we can’t control. So with that, it didn’t throw off no rhythm at all, nothing like that. Like I said, some things we can’t control on either team.” Howard’s point was clear: Valkyries were at the mercy of the same 1-hour-32-minute marathon first half.

What do you think? What really cost the Fever this win?