When Caitlin Clark got sidelined and had to step aside, the Fever had to push forward with the roster they had. But as Mitchell saw her sinking teammates, she ensured to lift them up. And this time, it was with a slogan: “All we got, all we need.” Ever since, there was no stoppage… until the Fever got their playoff berth. But it wasn’t just the motivation that Mitchell helped with, though!

Just a couple of games in and Mitchell was ready to lead the locker room. As Andrew Haubner shared on No Cap Space WBB, “I think Kelsey Mitchell made a first-team All-WNBA case in the last three, four weeks… this team simply is not here without her.” And no doubt, he’s got a point. Averaging a career-high 20.3 points, the highest in franchise history, Mitchell became the catalyst for the Fever’s wins this season. But it was her recent win against the Lynx that secured her a place in White’s good books!

“Wow. Wow. I mean, it’s impressive,” HC shared in a recent press conference when told about Mitchell making franchise history in scoring. “Kelsey Mitchell is a scorer. She has always been a scorer. For her to not just do what she does well and do it in an efficient manner, but then to take on playmaking abilities for her teammates, I think has really expanded her game a little bit and really showed what she’s capable of doing.”

She did, actually. The Indiana Fever star had 18 points as Indy wrapped up the regular season with a win over the league-leading Lynx. The team secured the first 10 points and led by as many as 24 at times. This is big considering the Fever were already short five of their players due to season-ending injuries, including Caitlin Clark. But it isn’t just about one game. She’s been called an MVP contender for a reason.

Ever since being drafted No. 2 out of Ohio State in 2018, she’s missed just five games. Even last year, she averaged a career-high 19.2 points per game while shooting 40.2% from three-point range in 40 games. But this season, she’s extended herself even more. Just rewind to her career-high 38-point masterpiece against the Sun. She had 34 points just after halftime. She went 11-for-22 and poured in 11 of 12 free throws, scoring Indy’s 10 in OT. All this was just enough to help the Fever cut a 21-point deficit to grab a win. That’s impressive, but what’s even more so is that she’s averaging a career-high 20.3 points per game. Not just that—one of the league’s top scorers is even shooting 45.2% from the field and 38.6% from beyond the arc.

But her influence isn’t just limited to the offensive side. As White puts it best: “And by the way, we’ve had to put her on sometimes the best perimeter defenders or best perimeter offensive players, especially the ones that are in ball screens a lot. So we continue to put more on Kelsey Mitchell’s plate, and she just continues to rise to the challenge. So I’m incredibly proud of her. She’s been through the ringer in this organization, and she deserves to continue to elevate her game in the way that she has and under different circumstances. So I’m just proud of her. She’s carried us.”

Well, Indy underwent a lot of changes this season due to injuries. At first, it was about surviving without Caitlin Clark, with Sydney being her replacement and Sophie as backup. Then, it was Aari coming in, Bonner getting waived, and CC being out with her second injury this season. While White acknowledged that Boston was “the most affected by injuries,” just like her, Mitchell was too.

Every time a player went down, Indy had none but Mitchell to rely on. Sometimes it was as a perimeter defender and other times as a perimeter offensive threat. And she excelled at both. In fact, she played more point guard this season than in all of her last eight years in the W. She always gave Indy whatever they needed from her.

If it was a scoring night, she could do that—she had four 30-point games this season. If it was playmaking, something they eagerly needed with point guards constantly injured, she did that too. She had over 10 games with five or more assists. “She just wants to play basketball… She’s a competitor… Every time we’ve had a reshuffling of the guard, so to speak, she’s taken her game to another level. We’ve needed her to. She’s put this team on her shoulders,” White shared.

But even in rare occasions when Indy required Mitchell to put even more weight on her shoulders, she did that as well. Four of her 30-point performances came with six or more assists. Even defensively, she adjusted on the fly, filling new roles and unlocking areas to help Indy find success.

“You’ve just really got to care about the people that you play with,” Mitchell shared about the motivation that kept her driving. “And I think it just fuels who we are as people. And y’all get to see it as a team for us.” But is she done? Not yet.

Kelsey Mitchell as 2025 MVP. Yes or no?

When Kelsey Mitchell re-signed with the Fever last season, Indy knew they were locking in a difference-maker. Stephanie White even said back then, “I have… always admired her work ethic, approach to the game and the way she interacts with her teammates.” But a couple of months into the job, White got to see it all up close. And even she wasn’t ready for the upcoming storm.

An MVP title—something her teammates already crowned her for—is still left, however. As Indy even posted on their X account while launching her candidacy video: “Kelsey Mitchell is a HOOPER. Her MVP and All-WNBA case keeps getting louder.” And no doubt, she’s an ideal candidate for it.

Even WNBA legend Candace Parker puts it better: “I feel like she’s kind of like that quiet assassin that has continued to work on her craft and better it. But also, now, she’s stacking wins.” Yeah, she is—as the Fever had just completed their regular-season finale with W3. Even their win last Friday against the Sky marked a clean 5-0 sweep of Windy City this season. All thanks to Mitchell, who led the charge with 20 points. So yes, she’s making a strong case for MVP this season. But can she win?