Caitlin Clark on Thursday gave her exit interview to the media as the Indiana Fever head toward another crucial offseason.
The Fever has big decisions to make this winter. The biggest centers on Kelsey Mitchell, the All-Star who is poised to be the free agent market’s most coveted player — assuming Indiana does not ink her to a multi-year extension.
More concerning for the Fever is the fact that Mitchell has made clear that playing in Indiana alongside Clark has prompted undue stress from the team’s fans and from bad-faith actors on social media.
“We get a lot of flak just for being on her team,” Mitchell said Saturday at her own exit interview.
MORE: Fever might be ‘cooked’ without Kelsey Mitchell, warns former NBA star
Losing Mitchell would be a significant blow to a Fever franchise that has championship aspirations. Mitchell set a WNBA single-season record in 2026 with 1,086 points scored, and her 24.7 points per game ranked second in the entire league.
But it’s clear that Mitchell is thinking things over, and the Fever can’t really afford that.
To that end, Clark on Thursday made clear how much she values Mitchell as her partner in the Indiana backcourt, and she is prepared to do what it takes to ensure the 30-year-old comes back next season.
“She knows how much I love her,” Clark said. “There’s nobody I’d want to spend the backcourt more with. We’re going to recruit her as much as we can.”
Caitlin Clark left absolutely no doubt this morning that she wants Kelsey Mitchell back. She has spoken to her since the end of the season. “She knows how much I love her …. and there’s nobody I’d want to spend the backcourt more with … We’re going to recruit her as much as we can. She’s just a good soul.”
— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) October 8, 2026
The chemistry between Clark and Mitchell reached new heights in 2026 as the Fever won a franchise-record 28 games.
Clark finished third in the WNBA in scoring at 22.3 points per game. The Fever set WNBA records for points per game (96.0) and offensive efficiency (117.0 points per 100 possessions), but they suffered a first-round playoff exit to the Las Vegas Aces.
The Fever needs to improve defensively, but that can’t come at the cost of losing Mitchell and her 25 points per game. Clark’s pitch to keep Mitchell is taking shape, and the process is only just beginning as the four-time All-Star prepares to field numerous offers.
