Over the past two seasons, few backcourts in the WNBA have matched the impact of Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell of the Indiana Fever.
Mitchell, who led the Fever in scoring with 20.2 points per game and finished in the top five of MVP voting, is set to become an unrestricted free agent this season. Fever head coach Stephanie White has made it clear that retaining Mitchell is the team’s top priority for the foreseeable future.
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Clark, meanwhile, remains under her rookie contract and played in just 13 games this season due to injury, following an historic rookie campaign in 2024.
Speaking on Sue Bird’s podcast, “The Bird’s Eye View,” Mitchell shared her admiration for Clark, highlighting how she carried herself while sidelined and the positive presence she brings to the locker room.
Indiana Fever’s Aliyah Boston (7), Caitlin Clark (22) and Kelsey Mitchell (0) take a photo before the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game.
Christine Tannous/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesChristine Tannous/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
“The biggest thing that I respected about Caitlin [Clark] is that she was never bigger than the program,” Mitchell said. “She wasn’t trying to take over… she wasn’t trying to be bigger than anyone else.
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“Her style of play ended up complimenting me, it ended up complimenting [Aliyah Boston]. The one thing I loved about Caitlin too, is we all love basketball the same way… The passion for it with Caitlin when she didn’t play compared to when she did play remained the same and I respected that about her because it could’ve easily not been that way… She ended up pouring in more than she thought. She gave us her best when she was in the locker room.”
Without Caitlin Clark for most of this season, the Fever still managed to make the playoffs for the second consecutive year and advanced to the WNBA semifinals before falling in seven games to the Las Vegas Aces, who went on to win the championship.
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Looking ahead, the Fever’s top offseason priorities are clear: retaining star talent like Kelsey Mitchell and getting Clark healthy and ready for her third season. If they can keep her healthy and maintain the talent around her, the team has proven it has what it takes to compete for a championship.
Related: Stephanie White Names Indiana Fever’s ‘No. 1 Priority’ Without Hesitation
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Oct 24, 2025, where it first appeared in the WNBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
