“The most resilient team I’ve ever been a part of.” That’s how Kelsey Mitchell described the Indiana Fever after their gritty win over the Chicago Sky. When Caitlin Clark went down, they played. When Aari McDonald and Sydney Colson were ruled out in the same game, they played. Then, when Sophie Cunningham exited in tears, they fought. That’s the theme the Fever have adapted for the season, and Aliyah Boston is making it known loud and clear.

Sunday’s game looked as good as lost when the team trailed by 21 points and the backcourt felt invisible. Mitchell herself had managed 4 points in the first half. Further, Cunningham — their best hope for a sharpshooter after Clark and Mitchell — going down with a knee injury, wasn’t helping the case. But by the time the buzzer sounded, the scorecard read 93-99 in the Fever’s favor. Boston, who put up yet another double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds, revealed what that means.

“Every day in our huddle, that’s what we say together. And it’s just more than words for us… people were expecting us to fold with the injuries. That’s not us,” she shared in a recent press conference.

The Indiana Fever, down 28-48 by the first half, mounted the largest comeback in franchise history to secure the win. With 4 players down at that. Coach Stephanie White couldn’t help but echo Boston’s words, conveying something she has iterated throughout the season. “They bring it out of each other. It allows us to go through these incredibly tough times that we’re going through and always gives us a chance.” We have seen it play out.

When Clark went out early in the season, it was Aari McDonald—signed on a hardship contract—who stepped into the spotlight. Watching film, adapting quickly, and bringing her signature grit, McDonald became Indiana’s “blessing in disguise.” She helped the Fever capture their first-ever Commissioner’s Cup title against the league-leading Minnesota Lynx. When her and Colson left, Cunningham and Mitchell took over, embracing the point guard roles when the team needed.

They went out of their comfort, hustled through the new position, and helped secure the win against the Sky. While Boston has been a steady force throughout, Mitchell has been loud and necessary. The veteran guard carried the team on her back with a career high 38-point performance. Well, injured Colson spelled it out: “Kelsey Mitchell isn’t real.”  Or better in Caitlin Clark’s words: “MVP kels.” 

This wasn’t an isolated performance that had the Fever players rallying behind their guard. 2025 has woken up a beast in Mitchell and the league is here for it.

How Kelsey Mitchell 2.0 is unfolding for Fever?

Candace Parker—never one to hand out praise lightly—captured Mitchell’s rise perfectly, “She’s kind of like that quiet assassin that has continued to work on her craft. But now, she’s stacking wins.” she shared, and she’s not alone. Dawn Staley, usually seen championing Aliyah Boston, has also thrown Mitchell into the MVP conversation.

The resume speaks for itself. Before the Commissioner’s Cup, Mitchell had four straight 20+ point games, including a 32-point performance against the Dallas Wings. She dropped 22 points in the Cup semifinals against the New York Liberty and hasn’t slowed down since—30-point outings have become routine. Remember that 35-point explosion against the Chicago Sky in just 30 minutes? She scored more points than minutes played.

Still, Mitchell keeps it humble as she shared, “I think it brings out the vulnerable side of me—the leadership I need to keep getting better at.” With Indiana desperately thin in the backcourt, especially until Clark returns, Mitchell has taken on dual responsibilities—initiating the offense, distributing the ball, and hunting her own shot. It’s a role she hasn’t fully carried since her Ohio State days, but she’s doing it with grace and efficiency.

Now, the question isn’t whether Kelsey Mitchell can score—she’s proven that time and time again. The real question is, can she sustain this MVP-level play long enough to drive the Fever into the playoffs with a depleted roster? Even Caitlin Clark, a pre-season MVP favorite herself, believes Mitchell could win it all this season. And if the Fever keep this up, maybe “Kelsey freakin’ Mitchell” as Cunningham says won’t just be a teammate’s rallying cry—it could very well be the league’s next MVP headline.