Kelsey Mitchell Calls Caitlin Clark a 'Live Light' in Fever Locker Room

Indiana Fever star Kelsey Mitchell shared a telling message about how Caitlin Clark impacted the team's locker room in 2025.
Jun 30, 2024; Phoenix, Ariz., U.S.; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) slaps hands with guard Kelsey Mitchell (0) during the third quarter against the Phoenix Mercury at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Michael Chow-Arizona Republic
Jun 30, 2024; Phoenix, Ariz., U.S.; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) slaps hands with guard Kelsey Mitchell (0) during the third quarter against the Phoenix Mercury at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Michael Chow-Arizona Republic | Michael Chow / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Indiana Fever didn't let their injury-plagued 2025 season keep them from reaching the WNBA Semifinals, where they just barely lost to the eventual WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces.

The success this team had without Caitlin Clark (who only played in 13 2025 games due to injury) is a testament to the camaraderie and culture Indiana created under head coach Stephanie White. And those who followed the Fever know that while she wasn't able to compete on the court, Clark remained active on the bench and supported her team in any way she could during Indiana's unexpected postseason run.

Kelsey Mitchell seemed to be one of the biggest beneficiaries of this support, if only because she played out of her mind down the stretch for the Fever.

Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell (0) dribbles between Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) and center A'ja Wilson
Sep 30, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell (0) dribbles between Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) and Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) during the first quarter of game five of the second round of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs at Michelob Ultra Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images | Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Kelsey Mitchell Praises Caitlin Clark's Fever Locker Room Influence

Kelsey Mitchell shared a strong message about the locker room impact Clark continued to have in the wake of her injury during her October 24 appearance on Sue Bird's Bird's Eye View podcast.

"Within our locker room, [Clark] wasn't trying to be bigger than anyone else, and I think the way her style of play, it ended up complementing me, it ended up complementing [Aliyah Boston]," Mitchell said.

"The one thing I love about Caitlin, too, is that we all love basketball the same way. We all have our different styles and ways of playing it, but the passion for it, with Caitlin, when she did play, compared to when she didn't play, remained the same. And I respected that from her, because it could have easily not been that way," she added. "You have people that come in and not want to do, or buy in, once it doesn't go their way, or once unfortunate things happen and you can't play, or an injury happens."

"I can respect the fact that she kept the program, the program, and she didn't let her passion for it waver. Because she ended up pouring in [to the Fever] more than she thought. It was dope, because she could have easily not been that person," Mitchell continued.

Mitchell later added, "[Clark] wasn't trying to... You can easily be a certain way, and her thing was just like, giving her her best. She gave us her best when she was in the locker room... You talk about a kid in a candy store, that's Caitlin. 22, she is, in a good way, she's a live light. And her personality shows in her game, and it's dope for her."

Fever fans are hoping Clark and Mitchell will get both give Indiana their next on the court in 2026.

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Grant Young
GRANT YOUNG

Grant Young covers Women’s Basketball, the Indiana Fever and the New York Mets for Sports Illustrated’s ‘On SI’ sites. He holds an MFA degree in creative writing from the University of San Francisco (USF), where he also graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and played on USF’s Division I baseball team for five years. However, he now prefers Angel Reese to Angels in the Outfield.

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