At the start of the season, much of the buzz around the Indiana Fever centered on Caitlin Clark and whether she could make a run at MVP. But after being limited to just 13 games due to injury, that talk fizzled quickly.
Now, another Fever star is being pushed into the spotlight. After Indiana clinched a playoff berth with a win over the Washington Mystics on Sunday, franchise legend Tamika Catchings declared Kelsey Mitchell as the team’s true MVP.
Mitchell’s performance against Washington caught Catchings’ eye, prompting the Hall of Famer to crown her as the Fever’s standout this year.
“Yes!!!!! Got my vote 🗳️, for sure!!! [a couple of heart emojis and a party popper emoji],” Catchings wrote after the game.
The 2012 champion also boosted Kelsey Mitchell’s case by resharing a Fever post highlighting her 20 points and eight assists in Friday’s must-win victory over Chicago.
Drafted second overall in 2018, Mitchell has been steady year after year for Indiana. This season, she’s averaging 20.5 points and 3.5 assists while playing on a one-year, $249,244 deal. Though the MVP race looks destined for A’Ja Wilson or Napheesa Collier, Mitchell’s play has made her a strong candidate for All-WNBA honors.
“The Mob That Has Turned Her Into a Political Totem”: Etan Thomas Slams Caitlin Clark’s Fanbase
While Mitchell shines, the Fever were dealt tough news Sunday as Caitlin Clark was officially ruled out for the rest of the season with a right groin injury. The 2024 Rookie of the Year managed just 13 appearances, averaging 16.5 points and 8.8 assists.
Former NBA player Etan Thomas, writing for The Guardian, expressed sympathy for Clark but delivered sharp criticism toward her fanbase.
“The mob (Caitlin Clark’s fans) that has turned her into a political totem does not care about her health or her wishes. Clark has asked repeatedly not to be used to promote racism, grievance and white-supremacist narratives,” Thomas wrote.
He argued that her most toxic followers see her less as a player and more as a symbol.
“To her most toxic followers, she is not a player but a symbol: the ‘great white hope,’ the damsel under attack from jealous Black opponents. With her sidelined, those narratives lose their fuel,” Thomas added.
Thomas has been vocal about Clark’s fan culture since her arrival in the WNBA, but with her season now over, his words are hitting harder than ever.
For more basketball content, click on Hardwood Heroics. Sabel Reyes can be reached through sabelreyes22@gmail.com. Other websites under the Sports Heroics umbrella are Gridiron Heroics and Wisconsin Heroics.
Sabel has been working as a field reporter for People’s Television Network (PTV), mainly about the Philippine Basketball Association since 2016 and has been elevated to Executive Producer for sports in 2022. Aside from being on top of the Philippine sports scene, she is also a running enthusiast. You can also follow her on X at @SabelReyes2 and Instagram at @msabelreyes.
