Tag: Kelsey Mitchell

Caitlin Clark deservedly earned 3rd-place MVP votes to cap standout rookie season

MVP votes as a rookie.

Now that the WNBA regular season is over, awards have been decided and Caitlin Clark’s phenomenal rookie campaign is being cemented in history. Not only was she named the unanimous AP Rookie of the Year and a first-team All-WNBA player, Clark also received MVP votes.

Though A’ja Wilson won the award unanimously, Clark put together a good enough campaign to finish fourth in voting, and she even received a few votes for third place.

In fact, Clark’s six third-place votes were second most to Breanna Stewart, and she led all players with 26 fourth-place votes. With an additional 22 fifth-place votes, Clark tallied 130 points to finish fourth in voting, just ahead of the Connecticut Sun’s Alyssa Thomas.

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Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx and Stewart finished second and third in voting, respectively.

Clark’s top-five finish isn’t too surprising after her historic first year helped catapult the Indiana Fever from 13 wins last season to 20 wins and a spot in the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Clark played all 40 games and led the Fever with 19.2 points per game and a league-best 8.4 assists. Her Fever teammate Kelsey Mitchell also received third- and fifth-place MVP votes.

Indiana opens the playoffs Sunday against Thomas and the Sun.

Caitlin Clark gets a shoutout from Kelsey Mitchell for Fever star’s new-found level of fame

“Shoutout to Caitlin.”

Indiana Fever star Kelsey Mitchell had an unbelievable but highly underrated season. Admittedly, a lot of what Mitchell did was not talked about enough. Thankfully, she’s received a lot of love from Fever and hoops fans for her contributions, and she credits that to Caitlin Clark.

Rightfully, Caitlin gets a lot of shine because of what she did for the Fever. But her backcourt partner is now getting some of that shine, too. By all accounts — and in my humble opinion — Indiana doesn’t have the season it did and make the playoffs without Mitchell’s consistent production.

Her game captivated so many people, but Kelsey isn’t beyond knowing where many of those eyes now watching came from. Here’s what she recently told the media about her elevated fame (See the clip below and the 3:44 mark of the YouTube video):

“I think the reality of it is that I don’t think people wouldn’t have known without [Caitlin Clark]. Shoutout to Caitlin…I think she’s just done an unbelievable job of bringing, obviously, her own fans and people that support her.”

“You know, for me, I kinda laugh at it and embrace it at the same time because I’ve always kind of flew under the radar. I’ve always kind of been that person, that player — very conservative. I’m very introvert. So, now I get to see the flip side of it, and it’s kind of funny. I can laugh about it because I know it’s come from a genuine place.”

“But I embrace it from the standpoint of, like, people, you know, [are] not guaranteed to see me play and now that they do, I just hope I do right by it. I just hope I don’t eff it up.”

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Caitlin Clark launched a beautiful full-court pass to break the WNBA rookie assist record

Caitlin Clark continues to do the unbelievable.

In the Indiana Fever’s second game back from the Paris Olympics break, Caitlin Clark had a chance to make some unique WNBA history. The guard needed just a few assists to break the league’s all-time rookie single-season record of 225, set by Ticha Penicheiro for the now-defunct Sacramento Monarchs in 1998.

And with the Fever locked in a tight battle with the Seattle Storm in the third quarter, Clark found a way to create a dynamite advantage for her team — by pushing the ball in transition — while breaking the record at the same time.

Seriously, she threaded a perfect full-court dime to Kelsey Mitchell, showing off why her attaining the rookie assist record was probably inevitable:

With the mark official, the Fever shared a touching congratulatory message to Clark from Penicheiro:

The more time goes on, the more it becomes clear we’re truly watching Clark piece together one of the greatest WNBA rookie seasons ever.

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, it’s a language and you’ve got to get on the same page with your counterparts. I think me and C squared like to play a certain way and that’s fast and up-tempo. So, I’m going to always align based on how she’s playing and how the game is going. I’m just going to take it in stride because I enjoy it. I’m with it,” Mitchell said.

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

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

“The way she runs the floor with her speed, I’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. It’s taken time, but I think we’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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Kelsey Mitchell’s reaction to a WNBA All-Star game question sparked so many Magic Johnson memes

“I won’t be there” — Kelsey Mitchell, probably

Kelsey Mitchell‘s unintentionally funny response to a recent question about the Fever hosting the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game is the gift that keeps on giving.

Of course, with the news this week that Indianapolis will host the All-Star game next year, Fever players were going to be inevitably asked their thoughts about it. But I’m not sure this is what the media had in mind when someone asked Mitchell for her opinion.

In a clip recently shared on social media, Kelsey, who will be a free agent after the season, seemingly hadn’t given the idea much thought and somewhat stumbled to come up with a response. Her answer totally gives the “that’s great for them” vibes, and I cannot stop laughing.

As the clip circulated on the internet, fans immediately noticed Kelsey’s reaction — which invoked shades of Magic Johnson — and generated so many splendid memes.

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Former Ohio State guard Kelsey Mitchell shines in WNBA All-Star Game

Mitchell made the most of the opportunity #GoBucks

If you’re a diehard Ohio State women’s basketball fan, you undoubtedly know the name Kelsey Mitchell. Mitchell was at one time second on the all-time NCAA scoring list with former Washington guard Kelsey Plum in her sights. Ultimately, Mitchell came up just 125 points shy of passing Plum for immortality.

But it is Mitchell who got the last laugh… at least on this night when the WNBA All-Stars played Team USA who is preparing for the Olympics that will begin in just a few short days. The All-Stars got the win over those headed to Paris by a score of 117 to 109. And Kelsey Mitchell was a big reason why.

Mitchell played just 14 minutes in the game, but she made the most of her opportunity. On 6-8 shooting from the field, Mitchell poured in 13 points and added one assist and two steals to help the All-Star team get the win.

Mitchell is having another fine season for the Indiana Fever. Although she is somewhat overshadowed by rookie sensation Caitlin Clark, Mitchell is second on the team in scoring averaging just over 16 points per contest.

Indiana is currently positioned as the No. 7 seed if the WNBA Playoffs were to start today. The Fever will resume play in mid-August after the conclusion of the Olympics and will have 14 games left to continue their run toward a championship.

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Kelsey Mitchell hit the coldest step-back buzzer-beater during the WNBA All-Star Game

Kelsey Mitchell — ARE YOU SERIOUS?!

Kelsey Mitchell hit an absolutely filthy stepback buzzer-beater to end the third quarter during the WNBA All-Star Game.

OK, fine. I’ll say I did not take anything seriously that was being said about this game. Both teams reportedly were very serious about it, but I wasn’t — until I saw that they were HOOPING out there.

So many good things were happening. Caitlin Clark assists. Angel Reese rebounds. Arike Ogunbowale on an ABSOLUTE HEATER. And then, Kelsey Mitchell dropped a NASTY buzzer-beater to end the third quarter, and I LOVED IT. YES, PLAY IT ON A LOOP. INJECT THIS INTO MY VEINS. I NEED IT. If it sounds like I’m yelling — I DEFINTELY AM.

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Kelsey Mitchell jokingly implied she channelled Caitlin Clark’s college days with her clutch 3 vs. the Liberty

Kelsey Mitchell shared the best Caitlin Clark joke.

The more time has passed, the more it seems Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever teammates are wholeheartedly embracing her rookie fame. Forward Aliyah Boston gassing Clark up after making history is just one great example when Clark is also trading deep 3-pointers with established WNBA stars like Sabrina Ionescu.

Fever point guard Kelsey Mitchell is the latest to feed into the Clark frenzy.

After Mitchell nailed a clutch, dagger 3-pointer against the New York Liberty to help the Fever notch an upset win, she could’ve simply played it coy and said making plays like that is just part of her job.

Instead, Mitchell joked about how she felt like she made the shot in front of a raucous Iowa Hawkeye crowd — a clear nod to Clark’s college days:

I have to imagine that many Fever players “feel like Hawkeyes” these days whenever they make a big play.

Former Ohio State women’s basketball star named to WNBA All-Star team

Congrats to Mitchell! #GoBucks

For the second time, former Ohio State women’s basketball star Kelsey Mitchell has been named an All-Star. The news was announced by her current team, the Indiana Fever on Tuesday.

Mitchell was drafted by the Fever in the first round of the 2018 WNBA draft after starring for the Buckeyes from 2014 to 2018. With OSU, she became the program’s all-time leading scorer with 3,402 points and was an All-American four times, and Big Ten Player of the Year three times en route to one of the most decorated careers in Ohio State history.

So far this season with the Fever, Mitchell has averaged 16.6 points, 1.8 assists, and two rebounds per game, all while shooting a blistering 40.5% from beyond the arc. Mitchell also was named an All-Star last season.

Congrats to one of the all-time greats to ever don the Scarlet and Gray.

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Caitlin Clark drained a stellar logo 3-pointer immediately after getting a pass from Kelsey Mitchell

Caitlin Clark hitting a logo 3-pointer immediately after getting a pass was just fantastic.

Indiana Fever rookie guard Caitlin Clark is becoming a natural at hitting logo 3-pointers in the WNBA.

On Thursday night against the Atlanta Dream, Clark sank an absolutely beautiful 3-point shot from the Gainbridge Fieldhouse logo immediately after getting a pass from teammate and fellow guard Kelsey Mitchell.

It’s really difficult to hit a logo 3-pointer in general, but to do so literally the second after you get a pass just shows how much poise and focus Clark has when shooting from well beyond the arc.

Her confidence with her shot is translating to the next level. As the Fever Twitter (X) account noted, Clark didn’t even need to get a dribble in to knock this logo 3-pointer down. What a moment this was for Clark and Indiana.

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