Caitlin Clark is standing firmly behind Kelsey Mitchell. At her end-of-season press conference, the Indiana Fever guard pushed back on any racist abuse directed at her teammate, who revealed days earlier that hostile fan messages have overshadowed her time in Indiana.
Kelsey Mitchell Spotlights Media, Fan Scrutiny in Indiana
Mitchell, an unrestricted free agent after nine seasons with the franchise, said Saturday that she'll put herself first this offseason. She described the abusive messages she receives "specifically being an Indiana Fever basketball player," and admitted the environment hasn't always felt welcoming.
She also acknowledged that Clark's spotlight often made playing at Gainbridge Fieldhouse more difficult.
"Playing with CC and having the eyes that she got, we get a lot of flak just for being on her team," Mitchell admitted.
Clark Defends Mitchell, Clarifies Her Stance on Fever Fan Behavior
Now, Clark is publicly supporting her on-court counterpart.
"As her teammate, that makes you upset because you care about your teammates so much," Clark said of Mitchell's comments. "She knows how much I love her. There's nobody I'd want to share a backcourt with other than her."
Still, Clark recognized Mitchell's experience, in the league and with the Fever, has been different from her own. She used her time at the mic to call for an end to any abuse aimed at her teammates.
"As far as people that have used me to demonstrate racist rhetoric or hate or discrimination, that's not something I stand for," Clark said.
"It's never been something I've stood for. For those of you who know me, you know that's not what I'm about. That's not how I was raised. So that's really disappointing when people do that."
Over the course of the 2026 season, Clark and Mitchell combined for 47 points per game — more than any duo in WNBA history. They also led the Fever to a 28-16 record, notching the franchise's best winning percentage since its 2012 championship run.
Clark has made it clear she want Mitchell on the Fever's roster come 2027, saying the organization is "going to work our butt off to get her back."
But the final decision lies with Mitchell, who will have plenty of time to think things over as she considers her WNBA future as an unrestricted free agent.
