When the Indiana Fever need points with Caitlin Clark out of the lineup, Kelsey Mitchell provides them. The veteran vanguard stepped up again on Thursday night in the Indiana Fever’s 92-89 win over the Phoenix Mercury.
In a back-and-forth affair, Mitchell delivered in the clutch, scoring the game-winning layup with 10 seconds remaining in the final frame. She finished the night with a game-high 29 points, eight assists, two rebounds, and three steals in 35 minutes.
After the game, Fever coach Stephanie White had nothing but praise for Mitchell’s performance, calling her “one of one.”
“You know, she’s one of one. She’s the fastest player in the league with the ball in her hand,” White said. “Her ability to get downhill is always great, but her ability to stop and change direction on a dime… she puts us on her back. She really does. And she scores while people are hanging on her all the time. She’s able to get open while people are hanging on her all the time. I mean, her endurance is incredible. You know, we rely heavily on her, and I’m thankful she’s on our team.”
While the praise was certainly deserved, as Mitchell is enjoying another stellar season and leads the Fever in both scoring and steals, the comment didn’t sit well with some Clark fans, who argued that Stephanie White has not praised Caitlin Clark in the same manner during postgame press conferences.
Here’s a look at some of the reactions.
It is, of course, any fan’s right to vent out frustration, but such strong words targeted at Clark’s teammates may seem a little uncalled for. Praising Mitchell for a dominant performance does not make Clark any less valuable, nor does it mean she isn’t deserving of similar recognition when she delivers great performances.
Caitlin Clark Praises Kelsey Mitchell for Dominant Outing
While some Clark fans had strong opinions about Mitchell receiving the spotlight, the Fever star didn’t appear bothered by the outside noise. Clark reshared Mitchell’s game-winning layup on her Instagram Story, writing:
“Dawg.”
The Fever are standing out this season thanks in no small part to their veteran leadership. While Clark and Aliyah Boston rightfully get a massive share of the credit, Mitchell deserves her flowers as a key driver of the Fever’s success.
She has stuck with the franchise through the thick and thin of the rebuilding years. Having seen the team at its absolute worst, the arrival of Clark has things trending upward, and Mitchell’s game is elevating right along with it.
The four-time All-Star has always delivered above and beyond anyone’s expectations. At this stage, she’s doing everything asked of her and more as she tries valiantly to push the Fever toward another deep playoff run.
While a lot of things have to line up perfectly for the Fever to make that happen, you only have to look at how dominant Mitchell has been lately to believe it’s possible. Friday night marked her sixth consecutive game scoring at least 20 points.
With Clark out of the lineup due to a back injury, Mitchell continues to come to the rescue. Over her last five games, she is averaging 28.2 points per game while shooting 52.9% from the field and an impressive 56.4% from 3-point range. If she keeps this up, she is well on course to break the franchise single-season scoring record she set last season.
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