Indiana Fever Flex Kelsey Mitchell After She Torched Chicago Sky in Caitlin Clark’s Absence originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
On Sunday, the Indiana Fever took on the Chicago Sky at United Center. Normally, this matchup would mean the latest installment in the budding rivalry between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.
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However, Clark was still unable to play due to a strained groin, and Reese didn’t suit up either because of a back injury.
The Fever still managed to win, 93-78, and they improved their record to 14-12 after their fifth win in their last seven games. Guard Kelsey Mitchell was the big reason that they were able to push past the Sky so easily, as she had arguably her best performance of this season.
Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell (0) drives to the basket against the Chicago Sky during the first half at United Center.Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Mitchell exploded once again with Clark out of action
Mitchell recently got her third consecutive WNBA All-Star Game nod earlier this month. On Sunday, she validated that berth with 35 points on 12-of-19 shooting from the field and 7-of-10 from 3-point range, six assists and three steals in Indiana’s victory.
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With Clark in and out of the lineup, Mitchell has stepped up her offensive game over the last few weeks, and the Fever reminded people with a post on X that she is the league’s leading scorer in July.
Overall, she’s averaging 20.2 points a game on the season, which is currently third in the WNBA, and over her last 13 games, she has put up an average of 23.1 points a game.
Mitchell’s exploits have come at an opportune time
This is the time of the season during which WNBA teams need to start watching the standings and concern themselves with playoff seeding. With Mitchell turning into a microwave lately, the Fever have the sixth-best record in the league.
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The race for the final playoff spots is tight, as they lead the joint eighth-placed Las Vegas Aces and Washington Mystics by just one game, but Mitchell has been keeping them afloat while their franchise player recuperates.
There is no timetable for Clark’s return, and she will not play on Wednesday when Indiana faces the Phoenix Mercury. Indiana will then start a four-game road trip with games versus the Dallas Wings, Seattle Storm, Los Angeles Sparks and the Mercury.
If Mitchell remains hot, she could perhaps buy more time for Clark to fully heal before she returns. That would pay off for the Fever in the long run as the postseason approaches.
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Related: Paige Bueckers Makes WNBA History Against Golden State Valkyries
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
