Kelsey Mitchell could be the true MVP of the Indiana Fever

The Indiana Fever are in the midst of their best season in a decade. They’re on pace to have their first winning record since 2015, and they just clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2016. 

Of course, it’s impossible to talk about the team’s success without mentioning Caitlin Clark, who is having a fantastic season and should win Rookie of the Year. But, perhaps the most important player on the team is her backcourt mate, Kelsey Mitchell.

Although she’s only 28, Mitchell is one of the older players on the Fever, and she’s been with the team since they drafted her in 2018. She has had to endure some lean times during her tenure — a five-win 2022 season was perhaps the low point — but she has always been a consistent and reliable player, as well as the team’s leading scorer over the past five years.

Fever general manager Lin Dunn. has had nothing but praise for Mitchell, and especially admires her tenacity. 

“Kelsey is a classic example of somebody that's been here six or seven years and never been in the playoffs, and that's tough, being in losing seasons,” she said “... she's had a tough, tough time since she's been here. Hopefully these last two years have reassured her the direction that we're going.”

Things have certainly turned around for the Fever this season, and Mitchell has been a big reason for this. She’s averaging career highs in points (19.1), rebounds (2.7) and field goal percentage (.461). Currently she sits at the eighth spot for most points per game in the league, just a hair behind teammate Clark.

It is what Mitchell has done since play started up again following the Olympics break, however, that has perhaps shown just how invaluable she is to the Fever and how she is helping to catapult them to the postseason. 

In the 10 games since play resumed, she averaged 24.9 points per game, including a season-high 36 against the Dallas Wings. The team went 8-2 in that span and is playing their best basketball of the season.

Wherever and whenever the Fever end up playing in the postseason, they will surely continue to attract a record number of fans. And while Clark will be the main attraction, it's clear that Mitchell deserves just as much attention.