Caitlin Clark’s Most Valuable Teammate Linked to NBA Icon’s Paige Bueckers Discontent, Per WNBA Analyst

“Why Paige? Why not Caitlin?” That was the question echoing across NBA and WNBA circles after ESPN’s celebratory post on the WNBA’s record-breaking 2.3 million attendance milestone. The post was historic, but the image of Paige Bueckers attached sparked debate. At a time when Indiana Fever superstar redefined the league’s reach by driving viewership by 300% in 2024 and contributing 26.5% to the WNBA’s total economic activity, fans and NBA players wondered why the league’s biggest headline wasn’t framed around her. After all, Clark and the Golden State Valkyries have been the two biggest engines behind the W’s attendance explosion this season.

To be precise, WNBA officials recently announced league attendance has surpassed 2.5 million fans over 226 games—eclipsing the previous single-season record set in 2002 (with 16 teams and more games)—with only a few weeks remaining in the regular season.

Besides, the news reached the NBA. Warriors icon Draymond Green openly questioned the choice, asking why Bueckers was the face of the celebration. His discontent was rooted in the fact that the Dallas Wings play in the third-smallest arena, with a capacity of 7,000. And Green’s response reminded that the Indiana Fever and the Golden State Valkyries have carried the WNBA’s surge, with the Valkyries selling out their 18,064-seat arena and the Fever pulling in a league-best with 577,979 fans.

WNBA analyst Rachel DeMita agreed with the NBA player. “I thought it was funny because Draymond had a point, and he went in a very roundabout way of saying it like, ‘Why are you using Paige? Why not use somebody from the Valkyries? Why not use somebody from the Indiana Fever?” she chimed on the latest podcast. “I mean, you could use a Kelsey Mitchell photo. If you’re going by how well they’ve played and also attendance, Kelsey Mitchell should be the photo that they use.'” And boy, was she right!

Mitchell has been the Fever’s heartbeat in Clark’s absence. The seven-year veteran is averaging 20.7 points, 3.4 assists, and 1.8 rebounds, ranking among the league’s top scorers. She hasn’t just filled the void, she’s kept Indiana Fever competitive during one of the roughest stretches in franchise history. But her value extends beyond the hardwood. According to Spotrac, Mitchell is Indiana’s highest-paid player and the league’s second-highest earning athlete. Under the ongoing one-year contract, Mitchell earns $249,244 this season, just behind Jackie Young at $252,450.

According to Spotrac, Mitchell is the highest-paid player in the league this season under her single-year “supermax” contract worth $249,244 for 2025. Only Jackie Young exceeds her on average two-year earnings ($252,450), but Mitchell leads in base salary.

Besides, her paycheck reflects her worth, even if the spotlight doesn’t. This is the irony. Despite being the WNBA’s attendance leaders, fueled by Clark’s gravitational pull and Mitchell’s steady brilliance, Indiana Fever were completely overlooked in favor of Bueckers, whose Dallas Wings finished fifth in attendance with just 329,000 fans. While ESPN’s choice may have been symbolic, but the numbers tell a different story. Without the Fever Indiana and the Valkyries, there would be no record to celebrate. And though Paige Bueckers may emerge as the league’s dazzling future, but Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark are the driving forces that command fan attention, literally.

Kelsey Mitchell breaks Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever record

Kelsey Mitchell broke another record on Tuesday night against the Seattle Storm.  With just 7:27 minutes into the first quarter, Mitchell attempted a 24-foot jumper against the opponents. While the basket was successful, so was Mitchell’s current score in the franchise.

The perfect bucket broke the franchise record of 769 points. Caitlin Clark held the score during her rookie season. Having said that, Mitchell started with 767 points this season and has since worked relentlessly till she finally became the Indiana Fever’s lead scorer.

As Indiana Fever veteran, Mitchell has stepped up in Clark’s average. Not only has she been racking up numbers for the Fever, she has been silently dictating on the floor like leader and setting the team’s pace each time they hit the paint. But while she has been clinching personal accomplishments, the Fever has been largely struggling.

As the sixth standing team in the league so far, Fever has only managed to win three out of nine games recently. With Clark on the sidelines and majority of the locker room dealing with injuries, the front office signed hardship contracts to ensure a smooth playoff run. But the team’s chances of survival look bleak as the playoff road gets narrower by the day.