Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Caitlin Clark’s Teammate Confesses True Feelings After Death of a Loved One

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paolo Mariano | Last updated May 15, 2025 12:58 PM ET

The trio of Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston will again look to spearhead the charge for the Indiana Fever as they looks to build on the momentum from their impressive campaign last season.

With Clark, Mitchell and Boston at the forefront, the Fever ended a long drought and advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

The 29-year-old Mitchell will continue to have a personal motivation this season following the death of his father, Mark Mitchell, in 2024. He was only 56 years old. He played a massive part in his daughter's journey to the WNBA, including being her coach at Ohio State.

In a report from IndyStar's Chloe Peterson, the Fever guard admitted that it's always tough without her dad, who regularly watched her play. She, however, has made him a constant inspiration.

“Everything that my dad taught me about the course of my life, I was able to characterize, even though he's gone," said Kelsey Mitchell.

"Does it suck physically not having him and seeing him? Hell yeah, it's a horrible feeling that I got to deal with every day. But I obviously took everything he taught me to be able to be instilled in me today."

The two-time All-Star added that the people in her inner circle, therapy and religion helped her throughout the emotional loss. Peterson wrote that Kelsey Mitchell "always feels her dad’s spirit with her."

“Mental health is real, therapy, I did all that good stuff to allow me to be at this point, but I feel confident that my dad lives in me every day," added the Fever star.

One of the top priorities for Indiana in the offseason was to re-sign Kelsey Mitchell. For the first time since being drafted by the Fever as the No. 2 overall pick in 2018, she tested free agency. But in the end, she returned to the team on a one-year contract worth close to $250,000, according to Spotrac.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: