Caitlin Clark’s return to face the Golden State Valkyries reignites her rivalry with Tiffany Hayes. From an on-court perspective, the guard has been spot-on, recording another 20+-point night against the Golden State Valkyries. But the situation around her next game against the Valkyries is tense, stemming from an on-court interaction between her and Golden State’s Tiffany Hayes last week.

Now, head coach Natalie Nakase has shed light on how she is looking to use Hayes for this high-profile rematch.

“I just think both of them are leaning on each other,” Nakase said in the press conference when asked about Hayes and fellow guard Kaitlyn Chen’s roles. “We just talked about their minutes recently, and they just said, ‘Hey, when they feel they have the holes in the offense, and they can attack, they let so-and-so go. But then if I get a little tired, I’ll switch it, and I’ll just let her go.'”

“So, just having that type of flexibility, again, someone who doesn’t want to dominate the ball, both of them. They’re both willing to share their roles. I think that’s pretty dangerous, because then you have two players that can punch the paint and then spray up for threes,” Nakase continued.

“We’re a very selfless team. Half the time, I have no idea where the ball is going, and so, I think we’re definitely headed in the right direction with that,” The Valkyries coach concluded.

Hayes and Chen have emerged as bench anchors, combining for 37 points against Indiana in their previous matchup. The coach Nakase will rely on them to provide her team with a similar offensive edge against the Indiana Fever. The Fever are the top team in the league in terms of ppg (93.7).

To counter it, the Valkyries will need Hayes and Chen to complement well with the team’s starters, like Veronica Burton and Gabby Williams, to give themselves a chance against the Fever’s Big Three of Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, and Aliyah Boston.

But this game carries weight beyond standings: it’s another chapter in the Clark-Hayes feud. In the last game, the confrontation didn’t stay confined to the court, further fueling this rivalry.

The controversy initially tipped off in the late third quarter of the game when Clark nailed a three-pointer while Hayes was guarding her. Clark, while jogging away, turned towards Hayes and seemingly said something to her. Hayes, almost immediately, hit back at the Fever guard, and the two got into a verbal confrontation.

It wasn’t clear what the two players said to each other. But, according to Marca, Clark told Hayes, “You like that?” after the shot. Hayes replied, “Better get yo’ a** out my m********ing face.” Clark then fired back, “Bring it on. Let’s go. Step up.”

Clark’s teammate, Myisha Hines-Allen, came between them, and the situation calmed. The Fever point guard had the last laugh eventually, finishing the night with 22 points and 9 assists in an 82-90 win. But Tiffany Hayes continued her rant against Clark even after the game. For instance, she was heard complaining that the officials are biased towards Clark.

“They’re never going to start calling a foul on her. If they did, she would never get to play in the games,” the press conference mic caught Hayes saying, as per SI journalist Grant Young.

Later, in the fourth quarter, Clark screened off Tiffany Hayes. The Valkyries’ guard went down. It was deemed to be a foul on Caitlin Clark despite protests from the point guard. That means Clark will pay another $500 as a fine for her flagrant foul.

Even social media wasn’t spared from this controversy. A conversation between Hayes and a fan emphasized the seriousness of the extent of this on-court exchange.

“I talk ish, b/c you’re nvr on my teams…. but I was READY 2 support your crashOUT,” a fan had written on Threads. Tiffany Hayes replied to the fan, remarking, “lol that’s fair.”

Following this social media exchange, many were navigating Tiffany Hayes’ righteousness in this regard. But amid it, a basketball analyst has shared his two cents in this regard.

WNBA Analyst Feels Tiffany Hayes’ Social Media Chatter is ‘Embarrassing’

Besides that ‘crash-out’ comment on Threads, Hayes also replied to another questionable post after the controversy. A fan had joked, “Listen. I got some cousins we don’t speak about, who will ride at dawn upon request. Just let me know.” The Valkyries’ guard replied, “😂 that’s real.”

While some view Hayes’ posts as threatening to Clark, analyst Robin Lundberg disagrees. “A lot of people are asking me what I think of it and whether it’s threatening. I think it’s more embarrassing than threatening,” Lundberg said on his YouTube channel.”

“That’s just a meme. Obviously a joke. I don’t take that as a legit threat. You can never know what anybody says online or what they actually mean online. But in the context of how I’m receiving that exchange, it’s more embarrassing for her to be that out of shape about it for her than to need to get consolation online.”

The extent of Tiffany Hayes’ involvement in this controversy can always be a question. Because Clark, on the other hand, hasn’t been reported to indulge in such social media chatter regarding that exchange. Yet, irrespective of that, one thing’s for sure: the Hayes-Clark rivalry isn’t just an on-court rivalry anymore.

Instead, it’s moving towards something more personal. Thus, with so much on the line around their clash, it will be a spectacle to see how both these players approach this matchup on May 28 at the Chase Center.