The radio hissed like an old blues record on a bone-cold Indiana morning, static curling through black coffee and the hum of a city daring to believe again. On 107.5 The Fan’s “Wake Up Call,” Lin Dunn’s voice cut through—gritty, no-frills, the kind that makes you freeze mid-sip. “We’ll do everything we can to keep her.” It wasn’t about Clark. This was someone Clark had circled in Sharpie. Quietly. Urgently. Someone she refused to let go.

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.

She’d seen rock bottom. And Indiana’s? It was uglier than most—a 5-31 crater of a season, the kind you lock in a vault and pray stays buried. In 2022, the Fever weren’t just bad; they became a basketball ghost town, the only team in WNBA history to average under 2,000 fans without a pandemic to blame.

“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 via SI, 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.”

Averaging 19.2 points, 1.8 assists, and 2.5 rebounds while shooting 40.2% from beyond the arc, she was the engine powering Indiana’s resurgence. More importantly, their chemistry was electric — Clark’s playmaking and court vision perfectly complemented Mitchell’s sharpshooting and veteran savvy. The fans could see it. The players could see it. The management, too. Hence, when the offseason talks picked up, Amber Cox had nipped doubts in the bud. 

“The number one priority for us is resigning Kelsey Mitchell. I think that backcourt was about as lethal as we’ve seen in the WNBA,” she asserted. “So we wanna reunite Caitlin and Kelsey.” You see, Clark lived that part of the history. It wasn’t just the rosy picture people imagined. It transpired, and the 23-year-old wanted to ensure the world witnessed it again.

Even when Clark won Rookie of the Year, Mitchell was one of the first voices to pledge unwavering support: “ I’m always going to be in your backcourt,” she said, cementing their bond both on and off the court. And that’s exactly why Caitlin — Indiana’s franchise cornerstone — likely made it clear to the front office that keeping Mitchell was non-negotiable. 

And Aliyah Boston? She summed it up best: “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.