Indiana Fever, the sixth-seeded team in the post-season, is hitting the court against the Mystics in their final regular season game. For the Washington side, it is a make-or-break moment for securing their playoff spot. On the other hand, Caitlin Clark and Co. look to boost their confidence and ensure their key players stay fit for the playoff, where they’ll face the third-seeded Connecticut Sun in the first round. However, the Fever has a wake-up call in the first half against the Mystics, signaling that they can’t afford to let their guard down just yet.

The Indiana side tipped off the game with their usual starting 5, opting not to rest any key players, unlike other teams. Their first five included the trio of Kelsey Mitchell, Aliyah Boston, and Caitlin Clark, all on the court. However, Kelsey Mitchell’s time was cut short as she played only 5 minutes in the first quarter, before heading to the bench. While she was spotted holding a knee brace, the Underdog WNBA reported about her injury on X, saying, “Status alert: Kelsey Mitchell (ankle) headed to locker room Thursday.”

The 28-year-old guard made an immediate impact, scoring 4 points in her brief stint. She even added an assist to her name and scored both her attempts from the field. However, her availability for the playoffs looks uncertain, which could be a worry for the Fever. While Caitlin Clark has garnered much of the spotlight for the team’s success, Kelsey Mitchell’s contributions have been just as vital to their achievements. In fact, the remarkable chemistry between Clark and Mitchell has helped the Fever big time. Take, for example, the September 15 game.

The Fever defeated the Dallas Wings 110-109, and the duo put up a combined 65 points, including 12 3-pointers, in their 65:51 minutes on the court. Mitchell, a veteran of the league, went 12-of-21 and scored 30 in the Fever’s final regular season home game, while Clark put up a career-high 35 points, setting the WNBA rookie scoring record. Through the regular season, the two have spewed magic that even Fever coach Christie Sides could not stop from lauding.

“Man, they’re special. I mean those two right there can hit such big shots. There’s just ice in their veins and they’ve got players around them who are helping them get open, setting good screens and then moving the defense as well. I mean, Kelsey with her ability to get downhill, you have to guard her a certain way, then she can just pull up on a dime. They’re just the dynamic duo. I mean that’s who they are,” Sides said after the Wings game. Caitlin herself has voiced the same.

“It’s hard to pick and choose when both of us are on it puts the defense in a really tough spot. We just really read and understand each other a lot better from where we were at the beginning of the season,” Clark had said. Notably, in the Wings game, Clark took her season point total to 761. The only Fever player who is ahead of her at the moment is none other than Mitchell, who has scored 763 points in 2024. “The amount of back-door cuts that girl has got just because we make eye contact and she knows to go back door, it’s incredible,” Clark had further said about their chemistry. And what does Mitchell have to say about that?

When Mitchell was asked how she makes Clark better and vice versa, she highlighted their speed. “Oh man, I just think that our pace alone is… A lot of people want to play fast (and) with a young PG, I get the best of both worlds, She’s young and she likes to play fast so I can appreciate it,” Mitchell said. This speed makes them deliver a nearly unstoppable offense and plays that aren’t often seen in the league, Mitchell further elaborated. But on-court understanding is not the only thing she credits Clark with.

Mitchell, who will play her first playoff this season after being selected as the second overall in the WNBA 2018 draft, behind only two-time WNBA MVP A’Ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces, thinks because of Clark, she has been receiving increased attention. This is something she has missed out on because of her introverted nature. She also hailed Clark for the overall increase in viewership in the sport.

“I think the reality of it is that I don’t think people would know without C-squared [Clark’s nickname]. So, shout out to Caitlin. That’s just the reality. I think she’s done an unbelievable job of obviously bringing her own fans and people that support her. For me, I kind of laugh at it and I embrace it at the same time,” Mitchell noted. All that being said, the Ohio State alumna has one more factor driving her to churn the best out of her.

Kelsey Mitchell has a “legacy to uphold” as playoff doubts emerge

This will be the first time Kelsey Mitchell will play in the playoffs after entering the WNBA in 2018. Before the Indiana Fever’s regular-season matchup against the Washington Mystics, she opened up to reporters about what this moment means to her. The two-time All-Star became visibly emotional as she made a heartfelt revelation: she plays not just for herself, but to honor her father’s legacy. “It’ll be an experience from a standpoint; I’ve never been a part of it. So the spectacle, the fans, that’ll be new for me.”

“So I’ll be like a kid in a candy store, probably. But ultimately, I got a legacy to uphold. I got a legacy to keep. And that’s my dad. And so my mindset and my focus is to go and have that maintain focus for 40 minutes and compete. Not for myself, but the Fever, but ultimately, I got a lot to fight for,” the Fever guard said.

As Kelsey Mitchell opened up about her father, Mark Mitchell, emotions ran high. He passed away unexpectedly in March 2024 at just 56. A former football player at Eastern Kentucky, Mark then dedicated his life to coaching hoopers. With rumors already swirling that she might leave the Fever next year, it remains interesting to see if she could achieve glory alongside Caitlin Clark this season. But first, she’ll need to fully recover and regain her strength ahead of the playoffs.