'Fight or Flight': Kelsey Mitchell Urges Indiana Fever Response Heading Into Chicago Sky Matchup

Saturday’s matchup at Wintrust Arena carries added weight for both teams. The Sky enter riding a two-game win streak after a rocky 0-4 start, while the Fever are looking to bounce back from a disappointing road loss to the Connecticut Sun.

For Indiana, this is also an opportunity to erase some of the frustration that’s crept in during Caitlin Clark’s absence. A 3-4 record is hardly catastrophic at this stage of the season, but dropping further below .500 would only intensify the pressure as the schedule toughens in June.

Kelsey Mitchell knows the stakes. In Clark’s absence, she has taken on even more offensive responsibility — both as a primary shot creator and as a tone-setter for the group. Her 22-point performance in the Fever’s June 3 win over the Washington Mystics was a needed spark, and her leadership in the aftermath of that win has carried over into this week’s preparation.

“Being able to fight through adversity, that’s what this is about,” Mitchell said. “We know who we are and what we need to do.”

Execution in crunch time remains a priority. Indiana led late against Washington before faltering in key moments, a trend that has surfaced multiple times this season. The Fever knows that correcting those late-game lapses is essential if they want to climb the standings, starting with Saturday’s game.

Caitlin Clark Progressing Toward Return From Quad Injury

The good news for the Fever is that Caitlin Clark’s return may not be far off.

Clark suffered a left quadriceps strain during Indiana’s May 24 game against the New York Liberty. The injury was not initially apparent — adrenaline masked the discomfort during the contest — but postgame pain led to an MRI, which confirmed the diagnosis. The Fever announced on May 26 that Clark would be out for a minimum of two weeks.

Now approaching that two-week mark, Clark provided a promising update on her recovery this week.

“I feel like I’ve made a lot of progress and I feel good, but I’m not going to rush my way back if it’s not worth it,” Clark said Thursday. “After this weekend I’ll be re-evaluated and we’ll have a better idea of when I’ll return.”

Saturday’s game against Chicago will mark Clark’s fourth consecutive absence. The Fever remain hopeful that after her weekend evaluation, she could be cleared for Tuesday’s home matchup against the Atlanta Dream, though no firm return date has been set.

Before the injury, Clark was averaging 19.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and a league-leading 9.3 assists per game through her first six appearances this season. Her playmaking and spacing have been difficult to replicate in her absence, and the Fever’s offensive rhythm has understandably suffered without her presence.

Indiana Fever Focused on Identity and Response Without Caitlin Clark

Until Caitlin Clark returns, the Fever knows that building an identity around defense, ball movement, and collective toughness will be their best path forward.

The team’s depth and veteran core — led by Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston — will be tested again on Saturday. Boston has been increasingly active on both ends, providing rim protection and inside scoring to complement Mitchell’s perimeter work. The duo will again shoulder the burden of keeping Indiana competitive against an improving Sky squad.

Beyond the X’s and O’s, Mitchell wants her teammates locked in mentally. Her “fight or flight” message is a reflection of how the team views this next stretch — not as a holding pattern waiting for Clark’s return, but as an opportunity to reinforce who they want to be.

“We’re not going to be a team that runs away,” Mitchell said. “We’re going to fight.”

That fight will be on full display Saturday night, with or without their star rookie on the floor.