Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell learning one another’s basketball ‘language’

Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell are becoming a deadly one-two punch for the Indiana Fever and learning one another’s basketball language.

Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell are starting to become fluent in one another’s basketball language.

That’s a scary proposition for Indiana Fever foes.

No moment better illustrated that than their finishing touches in the Fever’s 98-89 Friday win over the Phoenix Mercury. With Indiana in front 94-87 and the clock inside the game’s final minute, Clark turned the corner from the right wing, drove into the paint and, as the defense collapsed around her, she split the defenders with a pass to a cutting Mitchell for an easy two.

Those types of assists are becoming more and more the norm between the two. It also secured the 10th double-double of the season for Clark.

Clark finished one point shy of her career-high with 29 points and 10 rebounds against the Mercury.

Mitchell had a fabulous game in her own right, knocking down six 3-pointers and scoring 28 points.

Afterwards, Mitchell was asked about how she and Clark have continued to get better playing off one another.

“I enjoy it. I just think basketball, itā€™s a language and youā€™ve got to get on the same page with your counterparts. I think me and C squared like to play a certain way and thatā€™s fast and up-tempo. So, Iā€™m going to always align based on how sheā€™s playing and how the game is going. Iā€™m just going to take it in stride because I enjoy it. Iā€™m with it,” Mitchell said.

Clark touched on the chemistry that she and Mitchell have built and the understanding between one another.

“I think weā€™ve gotten a lot better just understanding each other as weā€™re playing the game. Looking for each other when each otherā€™s hot. Kels got hot there, made a few in a row, so youā€™re just looking to find her. I think in transition especially.

“The way she runs the floor with her speed, Iā€™ve always got my eyes up trying to look to find her. I think she can tell when I want her to go backdoor, when I want her to come cut off the ball or anything like that and just that chemistry that you get used to playing with one another. Itā€™s taken time, but I think weā€™re really starting to get it down,” Clark said.

Indiana battles the Seattle Storm on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. CT on ABC where the Fever will seek their 12th victory in their past 19 games.

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