Kelsey Mitchell Recalls First Fever Locker Room Moment Without Caitlin Clark

Heading into 2025, Indy had one of the deadliest backcourts, with Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark. Together, the duo poured in 38.4 points per game last season. Before they could dominate again, fate hit harder than expected. Unexpectedly, CC went down with a left quad injury, leaving the Fever without their offensive core. And then things never got back on track with three other injuries. But the most resilient team ever didn’t just give up. They survived against all odds and are now just one win away from securing a playoff berth. How? The transformation didn’t just come on court; it started in the locker room.

On Friday night, Indiana inched closer to securing a playoff spot with a 97-77 victory over the Chicago Sky. Kelsey Mitchell led the charge with 20 points, as the Fever completed a clean 5-0 sweep of the Windy City this season. And they did it all while their injury list kept growing. Just hours earlier, Chloe Bibby was ruled out for the year following knee surgery. With that backdrop, a reporter asked Mitchell what has kept the team pushing forward through it all.

The reporter pointed out a slogan that Mitchell had started echoing in team huddles, one first introduced by a teammate some time ago. Mitchell repeated it again, reminding everyone by saying, “All we got, all we need”. The guard then shared how the motto, one that the 2017 Philadelphia Eagles used during their Super Bowl-winning season, came about. “Probably might have been after somebody got hurt. I won’t even lie to you. It was early on,” she recalled. “I think it was when CC got hurt and I felt like it was deflating. It was hard for people to kind of see us and see our energy for what we brought to the table as a team.”

So, it all unfolded when Caitlin Clark stepped aside, still battling her injury, leaving the Fever to push forward with the roster they had. That’s when Kelsey Mitchell introduced a slogan that gave the group the spark they needed to play at full strength. At the time, Sydney Colson and Sophie Cunningham were providing support, but when both went down, the team brought in Aari McDonald to keep the momentum alive.

And the same call continued.

McDonald clicked right away, and Indiana quickly started piling up wins. Their streak even included a statement victory over the league-leading Lynx, helping them capture the Commissioner’s Cup. But soon after, Caitlin Clark went down again, just a few games into her return. Around the same time, DeWanna Bonner was waived, and Aari McDonald earned a permanent contract.

Even then, the roster played, losing and winning. But the worst was yet to come when Sophie Cunningham, Aari McDonald, and Sydney Colson went down to season-ending injuries. The team started taking it one game at a time, and they’ve defeated every team across the league. Except for the Golden State Valkyries, the expansion team that’s already in the playoffs.

“But like the all we got, all we need was just it’s a staple to who we trying to be as a team and who we want our culture to be. We can’t help the ones that’s not here, which is unfortunate, but we can help who is,” Mitchell added. “Maybe present about that and not disrespect the game because, you know, I would like to think that CC, CC would want to play and be in our shoes,” Mitchell added. Mitchell’s words cut straight to the heart of what defines this Fever squad. Resilience, respect, and unwavering unity. As she’s candidly put it elsewhere, “Every day in our huddle, that’s what we say: together“.

And Clark? Yes, she’d give it all to be able to play. “There’s a hunger and drive that comes with not having played and not wanting to do that again,” White said in a postgame press conference, a day after Clark was officially ruled out for the season.

The Indiana Fever sensation had managed only 13 games this season and hadn’t taken the floor since mid-July due to a right groin injury. She held out hope for a return, but it never happened. As White put it, CC was “working her butt off to be able to get back,” and though she was even seen practicing with the team, it just wasn’t possible. In many ways, Indy’s push for wins and a playoff berth stands as a tribute to everyone stuck on the sidelines. That’s what you call locker room culture.

As Clark shared, “I think it just starts with building relationships, getting to know your teammates, but at the same time we have so much great personality on this team.” Mitchell and others on the roster stepped up to carry the load. Mitchell alone upped her average to around 20.5 points per game, turning in a career best. She’s proving that even with reduced manpower, Indy could compete at a high level for CC.

A playoff spot is still a win away!

So, Indy still has a chance. As they secured a 97-77 win over Windy City, they’re now just one win away from getting into the postseason. That could only come if the team defeats either the Washington Mystics or the Minnesota Lynx in the two games left for the season.

The more reliable option is the Mystics, who are already out of the playoffs. Averaging 77.7 points per game, they hold a 16-26 record. The Lynx, meanwhile, are standing atop the league’s ranking with 32-9. Still, it won’t be easy for the Fever to win against both.

It’s because the Mystics hold a 2-1 lead against the Fever. Despite averaging 82 points per game against the Mystics, Indy’s only able to grab a win on 3-06-2025. That’s still better than having a 2-0 regular season record against the Lynx, despite averaging 87 points per game. So, ESPN’s WNBA Basketball Power Index ranking’s 92.2% chances for the Fever to make it to the postseason can be true with a win against the Mystics! But, will Indy be able to do this??