After falling 88-75 to the Golden State Valkyries at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Thursday (July 16), the Indiana Fever had little time to regroup. Just a day later, they were back on the same court to face the Seattle Storm, with both Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston dealing with injury concerns. In a crucial game, it was Kelsey Mitchell who stepped up and led the way for Indiana.

Now, with the Fever preparing to face the New York Liberty on Saturday (July 18), Mitchell’s performance has earned praise from WNBA legend Lisa Leslie. Speaking on CBS’ pregame show, the former Triplets head coach dubbed the veteran guard “the missile.” Explaining the nickname, Leslie said, “She’s the fastest player in the WNBA with or without the ball. But when she gets downhill, she moves so well without the ball.”

Meanwhile, the numbers behind Mitchell’s recent streak are just as impressive. During the CBS broadcast, the graphic highlighted that she has now scored 20 or more points in nine straight games, surpassing WNBA legends Ruthie Bolton, who did it seven consecutive times in 1997, and Diana Taurasi, who had a six-game streak in 2013.

However, Leslie also couldn’t ignore what Mitchell and Caitlin Clark had just done against Seattle. The Fever backcourt exploded for 75 of Indiana’s 110 points, with Clark scoring 45 despite playing only 29 minutes under a minutes restriction, while Mitchell added 30 points in 34 minutes. The duo simply overwhelmed the Storm.

After the win, the Fever’s official X account celebrated the pair as an “All-Star backcourt duo.” Fever insider John Nolan added another historic note, writing, “The 75 combined points by Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell on Friday night were a WNBA record for a pair of teammates in a game.” And Leslie wasn’t silent on that fiery performance. 

In the same pre-game show, the 54-year-old analyst said, “When you look at the two of them, they combine for 68 points of the Fever’s points. That’s crazy.”  

Not only that, but Mitchell’s consistency has also earned her a place in elite company. She currently ranks third in the WNBA in scoring at 22.9 points per game, trailing only A’ja Wilson (25.5) and Kelsey Plum (23.9). With Plum sidelined by injury, Mitchell has a real opportunity to climb even higher. But her recent surge isn’t the only reason she’s been making headlines. 

Kelsey Mitchell has been in the headlines for several reasons 

While Lisa Leslie couldn’t stop praising Kelsey Mitchell, not every analyst has viewed her game the same way. After Indiana’s final preseason game this year, Rachel DeMita pointed to one area where she believes Mitchell differs from Caitlin Clark. 

“She’s [Kelsey Mitchell] not a logo three-point shooter,” DeMita said after Mitchell missed a late catch-and-shoot attempt in the Fever’s 107-104 loss to the Dallas Wings. She also questioned Indiana’s late-game strategy, suggesting the play could have been drawn up differently. 

Even so, Mitchell’s recent performances have done plenty of the talking. After her 27-point outing against the Las Vegas Aces just a week ago, fans flooded social media with comparisons between Mitchell and Clark. Comments such as “She’s been more consistent than Caitlin Clark” or “She always been the first option on the team & she always been better than CC,” quickly gained traction online. 

With the All-Star break around the corner and a busy stretch still ahead, Mitchell will have more chances to keep her hot streak alive. After the Liberty matchup, Indiana’s schedule includes games against the Connecticut Sun on July 23 and the Seattle Storm on July 29. If her recent form is any indication, Mitchell will remain one of the biggest storylines to watch.