Caitlin Clark Defends Fever Teammate Kelsey Mitchell Amid Free Agency Uncertainty
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark is speaking out in support of her backcourt partner Kelsey Mitchell after Mitchell revealed the toll of playing under Clark's intense spotlight. With Mitchell now an unrestricted free agent, Clark made it clear she wants to keep their record-breaking partnership intact.
What did Caitlin Clark say about Kelsey Mitchell?
During her end-of-season press conference Thursday, Clark addressed comments Mitchell made last week about receiving criticism from fans simply for being on the same team as the superstar guard. Clark said hearing about her teammate's struggles was difficult.
As her teammate, it makes you upset, because you care about your teammates so much. You don't want any of them to go through something like that.
Clark acknowledged the intense scrutiny that comes with her fame, noting it affects everyone around her, from her Iowa days to the WNBA. She also condemned those who have used her platform to push racist rhetoric or hate.
As far as people that have used me to demonstrate racist rhetoric or hate or discrimination, that's not something I stand for. It's never been something I've stood for. For those of you that know me, you know that's not what I'm about. That's not how I was raised.
Will Mitchell stay with the Fever?
Mitchell, a nine-year veteran who has spent her entire career in Indiana, is set to hit the open market. Clark said she has already spoken with Mitchell since the Fever's first-round playoff exit to the Las Vegas Aces on Oct. 1 and made her feelings clear.
There's nobody I'd want to share a backcourt with other than her. I think we had the best season of any backcourt in the WNBA in the league's history with what we were able to do.
Clark added that the organization will do everything possible to bring Mitchell back.
I know this organization, we're going to work our butt off to get her back. We're going to recruit her as hard as we can. We need her. We love her.
What did Mitchell say about playing with Clark?
Mitchell made waves during her own exit interview last week, leaving her future in doubt. She described the difficulty of playing alongside one of the most famous athletes in women's sports.
Showing up every day to compete for fans that may or may not like you is hard. Playing with CC and having the eyes that she got, we get a lot of flak just for being on her team.
Mitchell said she plans to be selfish when deciding where to play next, but Clark pointed out that Mitchell earned MVP chants from Fever fans this season.
How dominant were Clark and Mitchell this season?
The duo combined for 47 points per game, making them the highest-scoring teammates in WNBA history. Mitchell posted a career-best 24.7 points per game and entered the MVP conversation, while Clark continued to shatter records in her second professional season.
What does this mean for the Fever's future?
Keeping Mitchell is critical for Indiana's championship aspirations. The Fever showed significant growth this season, and losing Mitchell would leave a massive void in the backcourt. Clark's public endorsement signals the organization's priority, but the final decision rests with Mitchell as she weighs her options in free agency.
For Iowa fans who followed Clark's college career at Iowa State's rival, the Hawkeyes, her leadership and loyalty to teammates remain hallmarks of her game. Whether that translates to Mitchell staying in Indiana will be one of the biggest storylines of the WNBA offseason.