Kelsey Mitchell is already reminding Fever fans why she’s one of the WNBA’s most dangerous scorers originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The early conversation around the Indiana Fever has understandably centered on Caitlin Clark, the team’s playoff expectations, and whether Indiana can take another major leap this season. But two games into the year, another storyline is becoming impossible to ignore. Kelsey Mitchell is playing some of the best basketball in the league.
After opening the season with 30 points against the Dallas Wings, Mitchell followed it up with another 23-point performance in Indiana’s win over the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday night. That gave the veteran guard 53 total points through the Fever’s first two games — the most by a player in franchise history over that span.
It is an eye-opening number, especially because Mitchell still feels like she has another level offensively. Her outside shot has not fully exploded yet, but she has continued finding ways to score through drives, pull-up jumpers, transition opportunities, and late-clock possessions when Indiana needs someone to settle the offense.
That balance has become critical for a Fever team still figuring things out defensively and rotationally early in the season.
Kelsey Mitchell stepped up when Fever needed scoring most
Caitlin Clark finished with 24 points against Los Angeles and once again controlled the pace offensively, but Indiana also needed Mitchell’s shot creation after Aliyah Boston struggled through foul trouble and never found offensive rhythm. Following the game, Fever coach Stephanie White suggested officiating disrupted Boston’s night from the start.
“You think it was LA?” White said when asked about Boston’s lack of touches. “I think it was foul trouble. I mean, she didn’t really get a chance, and I think it’s hard to get into a flow when you’re getting called for all these quote-unquote fouls.”
That made Mitchell’s performance even more important. Indiana needed someone who could consistently create offense while the game became more physical, and Mitchell delivered once again. Whether it was attacking downhill or creating separation in the midrange, she looked like the calmest scorer on the floor for long stretches.
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Fever’s offensive ceiling may depend on Mitchell staying this aggressive
Indiana already knows what Clark brings every night. The bigger question entering the season was whether the Fever could consistently punish teams when defenses overloaded toward their superstar guard. Through two games, Mitchell has answered that question emphatically.
She has looked decisive, confident, and fully comfortable operating alongside Clark. More importantly, she has not disappeared into the background of Indiana’s offense. Instead, she has attacked like a player who understands the Fever are significantly more dangerous when opponents have to worry about multiple elite scoring threats.
That is part of what makes Indiana intriguing this season. Clark’s passing and gravity force defenses into difficult decisions. Mitchell’s scoring ability punishes those decisions immediately.
Fever fans are already seeing a special start from Mitchell
Fans quickly flooded social media after the Fever highlighted Mitchell’s record-setting start. Some called her an MVP-caliber player, while others pointed out she has piled up points without even fully catching fire from three-point range yet. And honestly, that may be the most encouraging sign for Indiana.
Mitchell does not look like a player simply riding early-season momentum. She looks sharp, under control, and completely in sync with the offense. The Fever split their first two games and still have obvious areas to clean up, especially defensively. But if Mitchell continues scoring at this level next to Clark, Indiana’s offense may become overwhelming for a lot of teams very quickly.
Next up for the Fever is a matchup against the Washington Mystics, who also opened the season 1-1.
More WNBA news:
- Kelsey Plum makes major off-court move during breakout WNBA moment
- Lisa Leslie still believes Team USA missed a huge opportunity with Caitlin Clark
- Lisa Leslie’s latest announcement shows why her influence still stretches far beyond basketball
- Cameron Brink had one message for Caitlin Clark after viral block
- Caitlin Clark is chasing Stephen Curry in one stunning popularity race
