The Indiana Fever are within the midst of their greatest season in a decade. They’re on tempo to have their first profitable file since 2015, and so they simply clinched a playoff berth for the primary time since 2016.
After all, it’s inconceivable to speak concerning the crew’s success with out mentioning Caitlin Clark, who’s having a implausible season and may win Rookie of the Yr.
However, maybe crucial participant on the crew is her backcourt mate,
Kelsey Mitchell.
Though she’s solely 28, Mitchell is without doubt one of the older gamers
on the Fever, and he or she’s been with the crew since they drafted her in 2018. She
has needed to endure some lean occasions throughout her tenure — a five-win 2022 season
was maybe the low level — however she has at all times been a constant and dependable
participant, in addition to the crew’s main scorer over the previous 5 years.
Fever basic supervisor Lin Dunn. has had nothing but praise for Mitchell, and particularly admires her tenacity.
“Kelsey is a
traditional instance of someone that is been right here six or seven years and by no means been
within the playoffs, and that is powerful, being in shedding seasons,” she stated “…
she’s had a troublesome, powerful time since she’s been right here. Hopefully these final two
years have reassured her the route that we’re going.”
Issues have actually circled for the Fever this
season, and Mitchell has been an enormous motive for this. She’s averaging profession
highs in factors (19.1), rebounds (2.7) and discipline objective proportion (.461). At present
she sits on the eighth spot for many factors per recreation within the league, only a hair
behind teammate Clark.
It’s what Mitchell has executed since play began up once more
following the Olympics break, nonetheless, that has maybe proven simply how invaluable
she is to the Fever and the way she helps to catapult them to the postseason.
In
the ten video games since play resumed, she averaged 24.9 factors per recreation, together with a
season-high 36 towards the Dallas Wings. The crew went 8-2 in that span and is
enjoying their greatest basketball of the season.
Wherever and at any time when the Fever find yourself enjoying within the
postseason, they’ll certainly proceed to draw a file variety of followers. And
whereas Clark would be the fundamental attraction, it is clear that Mitchell deserves simply as a lot
consideration.