“Kelsey Mitchell, even though she’s on you guys’ team — you guys have this biggest spotlight — she’s still the most underrated player.” With an average of 19.9 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists, Kelsey Mitchell stepped up in Caitlin Clark’s absence and how! Her impressive stat line not only strengthened the team but also bolstered them against some of the most vigorous opponents this season. And soon enough, Mitchell became the lead scorer for the league this season. Despite veteran Lisa Leslie terming her an underrated player, Mitchell’s recent performances have raised eyebrows for good.

On the latest episode of the Locked On Women’s Basketball podcast, host Howard Megdal stressed the playoff challenges that the Indiana Fever will face because of the two consecutive losses against the Dallas Wings and the Washington Mystics. “They’re halfway through it where they’re playing the teams with the worst four records in the league,” Megdal said. “They needed to clean it up. That Wings loss does hurt.” Talking about the walls closing in on the team, thanks to a tighter playoff race this season, he emphasized the contenders that the team is up against.

Despite every possible recipe for a sure-shot win, Paige Bueckers & Co. flipped the script. The Dallas Wings’ veteran, Maddy Siegrist, entered the arena in the last of the four-game series and racked up 22 points against the Indiana Fever. “There’s been a lot of discussion about the last one possession,” the national analyst said. “And it was a one-possession game, which is why the last possession gets a microscope and a lot of discussion about who played.” While the Fever succumbed to a glaring one-point defeat in the final moments of the last quarter, the burden fell on none other than Kelsey Mitchell and Lexi Hull.

“But Kelsey Mitchell was a little off from the field and couldn’t quite distribute the same way she did. She had eight assists against Chicago, just two in this game,” Howard mentioned. “Lexi Hull, their fifth starter right now, missed all of her shots. Three turnovers for Mitchell and Hull were also very painful. And then the bench was dreadful.” Comparing the two formidable starters with their previous performances, the analyst added how the former replacement signee, Chloe Bibby, outperformed Mitchell and Hull against Siegrist and Bueckers.

Despite the two players faltering against the last standing team in the Western Conference, the season has come to a point where every tiny misstep can lead to greater consequences. Though Mitchell managed to score a game-high of 26 points against the Wings, it all boiled down to her gameplay in the paint. And eventually threatened their aspirational run.

While the 81-80 loss sent the locker room into a losing spiral, it also confirmed the team’s and HC Stephanie White’s worst fears. The game confirmed the Minnesota Lynx’s place in the playoffs. If the Fever had successfully avoided turnovers in the home game, the sixth-seeded franchise in the league’s standings could have secured a spot in the playoffs instead. Moreover, the Fever’s last stretch is going to be tough, thanks to three remaining games against the Lynx.

Two games vs the Lynx are scheduled in August, and the Fever will face the highest-ranked team for the last time on September 10, just a day before the finals commence. With Sydney Colson and Aari McDonald joining Caitlin Clark on the sidelines, the team lacks a strong point guard presence in the paint. Though Odyssey Sims is the only natural guard on the roster, can she single-handedly rally the team into the playoffs? Given the current 18-16 condition of the franchise, securing a safe spot in the 2025 playoffs will be an uphill task for HC White and the locker room.

Caitlin Clark’s Newest Teammate Projects a Strong Championship Mindset

Caitlin Clark’s newest teammate shared her thoughts before going on the floor against the Washington Mystics. Despite being on a seven-day hardship contract, newcomer Kyra Lambert displayed a strong Aari McDonald-like sentiment during the practice sessions. Needless to say, Aari too was a hardship joiner who was later signed under an end-of-season contract.

Ahead of the Washington Mystics game, a reporter asked Lambert, “What’s your familiarity, if anything, with the team, with Steph, how they want to run things?” The new guard responded with, “I’ve been watching the WNBA for years. I mean, it’s the best basketball in the world, so I’ve been watching. I’ve been studying.”

Carrying an international experience into the W, Lambert can become one of the strongest assets for the locker room. After all, she projects a strong championship mindset that aligns closely with that of the franchise, so, when a reporter pushed her to answer, “How does your game, kind of, fit in the system and vice versa?” a confident Lambert cleared the doubts. “It fits perfectly as far as running and gunning,” she said. “Getting the ball out quickly, pressuring on defense, really bringing intensity and physicality.”

As a fast-paced team known for its offensive prowess and a growing defense system, becoming a part of the Indiana Fever is not easy. However, with Lambert focused on the championship win, she could join hands with Odyssey Sims to propel the team into the playoffs this season. But as the HC relies on these hardship joiners to aid the struggling locker room, can Lambert and Sims provide enough point-guard depth and direction to the roster? That remains to be seen.