Caitlin Clark’s message for Kelsey Mitchell amid heartbreaking end to 2025 season originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
An emotional Instagram post from Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell drew strong reactions from Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston and Sophie Cunningham on Sunday, showing the strong bonds that forged Indiana’s improbable WNBA semifinals run during the just-concluded 2025 playoffs.
Advertisement
Amid season-ending injuries to Clark and Cunningham, it was up to All-Star duo Boston and Mitchell to keep the Fever afloat. Combined with strong coaching from Stephanie White, Indiana forced the eventual champion Las Vegas Aces to a winner-take-all fifth game of the semifinals — during which Mitchell experienced severe cramping due to Rhabdomyolysis.
MORE: Aces championship parade 2025 date, time, route and how to watch Las Vegas’ WNBA title celebration
On Sunday, Mitchell reflected on the 2025 season in a post that featured a 20-photo collage encompassing her record-breaking season. Mitchell, who set a new Fever franchise mark by averaging 20.2 points per game, wrote that “survival mode” and her father Mark’s “blueprint” pushed her to new heights in her age-29 season; she was named All-WNBA First Team for the first time in her career.
Mitchell served as an inspiration to Clark, who wrote that she was “so lucky to be” Mitchell’s teammate and watched her assume much of the offensive burden following a string of nagging injuries.
Advertisement
“Proud of u kels,” she wrote.
Cunningham called Mitchell ” everyone’s GOAT,” while Boston called her “the realest in the game” and Natasha Howard wrote how thankful she is to call Mitchell “family.”
Mitchell is a pending free agent, but the Fever’s stated priority is to sign her to a new contract. And based on these glowing comments from her teammates, Mitchell might not be in any hurry to leave Indiana.
