The radio crackled like a scratched vinyl record on a bitter Indiana morning—static dancing with the hum of heaters and the hush of a city that, for the first time in eight years, had playoff basketball to believe in again. On 107.5 The Fan’s “The Wake Up Call w/KB & Andy,” the air was thick with caffeine, nostalgia, and cautious hope. Locals tuned in, black coffee in hand, hearts still adjusting to the fact that the Fever were back where they belonged.
Then Lin Dunn’s voice cut through the chatter—gravelly, steady, the kind of voice that makes you put down your mug and listen. “We’ll do everything we can to keep her.” Nobody thought she was talking about Caitlin Clark—Clark was already locked in, the golden ticket, the billboard on every street. This was about someone else. Someone, Caitlin, had quietly circled in red Sharpie. Someone, she had made her personal crusade to keep in Indiana’s colors. No matter what.
Of course, we are talking about Kelsey Mitchell.
The Iron Woman. The constant. The player who bled Indiana blue when the seats were empty and the scoreboard screamed defeat. Mitchell carried the Fever on her back through the darkness, after Tamika Catchings’ retirement, through coaching carousels, through the deafening silence of gyms where echoes outnumbered fans.
The Fever’s rock bottom? It wasn’t pretty. A 5–31 record. The kind of season you bury in a vault and hope no one ever opens. In 2022, Indiana became the only team in WNBA history to average fewer than 2,000 fans per game without the excuse of a pandemic. A basketball ghost town.
“You had to bring your own sense of momentum,” Mitchell says now, her voice tinged with the kind of exhaustion only those who’ve lived through losing can know. “I can never forget.”
That’s exactly why, when free agency came knocking, Caitlin wasn’t waiting around. “It was our No. 1 priority this offseason,” Clark said recently, like it was the first scribble in the playbook. “Kelsey had the best year of her career, and honestly, I wouldn’t have been able to do what I did without her.”
Aliyah Boston wasn’t far behind, putting it plainly: “Our squad’s not the same if she’s not here.”
Because it wasn’t just about stats. Mitchell’s voice in the locker room, her battle scars, her refusal to let this franchise fold—that was the glue. And after the fever ended their season by making the Playoffs for the first time in 8 years, Lin Dunn’s successor, Kelly Krauskopf, made sure Mitchell stayed, signing her to a one-year supermax deal worth $249,244 with core player status. Indiana wasn’t letting their heart walk away.
Why Caitlin Clark Is the WNBA’s Must-Have Player Right Now
While Mitchell’s grit and hard work earned her Sports Illustrated covers with her teammates, it’s still Clark who dominates the headlines. If the WNBA hit a cosmic reset button today, half the league’s general managers would slam the launch pad with one name: Caitlin Clark.
This isn’t hype—it’s straight from the league’s annual GM survey, where 50% of execs named Clark their franchise cornerstone. Why? Because she’s not just a player; she’s a walking sellout streak, a ratings magnet, and the undisputed queen of assists (8.4 per game) in her rookie season. A’ja Wilson grabbed 33% of votes, with Napheesa Collier and Dominique Malonga also getting nods. When it comes to causing opposing coaches the most headaches, Wilson leads with 33%, while Clark and Breanna Stewart tied for second at 25% each.
Best point guard in the WNBA?
Caitlin Clark, Indiana – 50%
Chelsea Gray, Las Vegas – 50%
Best shooting guard?
Caitlin Clark, Indiana – 33%
Kayla McBride, Minnesota – 25%
Sabrina Ionescu, New York – 25%
(Others receiving votes: Arike Ogunbowale, Jackie Young)
Even with MVP buzz last year, Clark still faces doubters. GMs picked Chelsea Gray as the league’s best passer, splitting the best point guard vote evenly. The debate isn’t settled yet. Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier tops the MVP race with 67% of votes, with Wilson close behind. But Clark is closing the gap fast—because she’s more than stats. She warps defenses, electrifies arenas, and fills seats from Indy to the West Coast.
ESPN’s Rebecca Lobo says it best: “If you’re an owner, you’re starting with Clark. Period.”
And the Fever? They’re riding the wave. GMs named them the team with the best offseason moves, the most likely to turn heads, and the squad everyone must watch. New coach Stephanie White is already hailed as the most impactful hire. The Fever might not be Vegas favorites yet—but they’re a must-watch.
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