After revealing six players set to compete in the second season of Unrivaled, the league announced its latest addition: Indiana Fever veteran Kelsey Mitchell. The eight-year WNBA standout has been putting on a masterclass during the playoffs, carrying her team through tense, high-stakes games. Now, she’s set to make her debut in the winter league, adding another chapter to an already remarkable career.

Unrivaled announced the latest joinee via a post on their X account, saying, “Kelsey Mitchell is unrivaled ✅ Presented by @ally. Catch her in Season 2 starting Jan. 5 on TNT, truTV and Max. 📺” The announcement came with a quirky poster showcasing her impressive career highs like being a 3x All-Star Commissioner’s Cup Champion, averaging a career-high in PPG this season, becoming the first player this season to hit 100 three-pointers– and only the first in WNBA history to reach that milestone three times. For context, she logged 20.2 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game while playing all 44 games and logging 31.4 minutes per outing, helping her team during a time when key players were out with injuries. 

In contrast, Caitlin Clark, the Fever’s young superstar, has again decided to sit out Unrivaled’s second season. Last year, Clark turned down a reported $1 million offer to join the new 3-on-3 league, co-founded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier. The news came just hours after Unrivaled unveiled the rosters and coaching assignments for all six teams during a 22-minute YouTube livestream– an event some speculated subtly nodded to Clark’s No. 22 jersey. Clark is once again likely to sit out the league. While it would make plenty of sense for her to play, especially to regain match fitness ahead of the 2026 WNBA season after suiting up for just 13 games this year due to injuries, Clark seems set to prioritize rest once more. But speaking of rest and off-time, even Mitchell didn’t need to play.

To reward her MVP-worthy season, the Indiana Fever amended Mitchell’s contract to include a time-off bonus. According to Scott Agness, WNBA teams can spend up to $50,000–counted against the salary cap–to encourage players to limit offseason play. Despite the incentive, and being W’s highest-paid player this season ( Kelsey is earning $249,244, the maximum supermax under the 2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement), Mitchell has chosen to suit up for an offseason tournament, just as she has done over several years playing overseas, including a stint in China last year with the Shanxi Flame.

In her defense, the Fever granted her a $20,000 time-off bonus, which restricts her participation in other professional leagues to 90 days or fewer. Unrivaled’s schedule fits within that window, running from Jan. 5, 2026, to early March, depending on the playoff structure, per Chloe Peterson. So, Mitchell is well within her rights to play in the league despite the bonus. As for Clark, her decision to sit out this year as well, if that is what she chooses, will be well understood, as shared by Unrivaled president Alex Bazzell.

When asked about Caitlin Clark playing this season, he said: “How we approach it is we don’t really apply pressure..Everyone who’s not currently in the league and who’s a top player, not just her, knows we’re a phone call away. It doesn’t mean there’s always going to be a spot because we have to fill spots. … But she’s one of the rare players who — she was first-team all W last year. She’s a great player. So we haven’t really approached those conversations. We aren’t in conversations.”

The husband of Unrivaled founder Napheesa Collier also added that he believes Caitlin Clark should play in the offseason, whether in Unrivaled or abroad. At the same time, he fully understands if she chooses not to, emphasizing that the decision ultimately rests with her and her team, as health should always be the top priority for any athlete.

That said, we’re in an era where the WNBA is asking players to skip Unrivaled or overseas leagues during CBA negotiations, as revealed by Satou Sabally and Gabby Williams. The move is clearly meant to protect player safety, but why would anyone pass up the opportunity to earn more money playing Unrivaled or abroad? Plus, this season, Mitchell won’t be the only Fever heading to Unrivaled.

Her teammate Lexie Hull is also expected to suit up, continuing her participation from the league’s inaugural season. Sonia Citron, the 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year runner-up, will also be making her debut in the 3×3 league. Aliyah Boston’s involvement remains uncertain, though most insiders expect her to make her debut. 

So, seeing Caitlin Clark sit out this season could bode well for the WNBA brand overall. That said, the focus is now on the playoffs….

Caitlin Clark and co ready for Game 3?

The Indiana Fever have been the Cinderella story of the playoffs so far. No one gave them a chance against the Atlanta Dream, yet against all odds, they won the series in the deciding game. Moving on to the semifinals, expectations were low once again—but the Fever stunned everyone in Game 1, thanks to Kelsey Mitchell’s generational performance. She dropped a playoffs career-high 34 points, setting the tone for the series.

Mitchell has been in fantastic form throughout the playoffs, averaging 23.4 points over five games so far. But the Fever got a taste of life without her at full strength in Game 2 against the Aces. A’ja Wilson and company held Mitchell to just 13 points, leading the Aces to a dominant 22-point victory.

As the series shifts to Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Caitlin Clark and the Fever will be counting on the crowd to once again act as a sixth player, just like they did during the Atlanta series. But the question remains–will that be enough against an Aces team that appears to have figured out how to contain Mitchell? Stay tuned to find out!