Kelsey Mitchell, Caitlin Clark’s partner-in-crime in the Indiana Fever’s All-Star backcourt, has one very clear message for her team: Show me the money, or I’m sitting this one out.
Mitchell, who helped drag the Fever out of the abyss and into their first playoff appearance since 2016, isn’t shy about her demands in free agency. Her three-year, $618,000 contract just expired, and she wasted no time letting the Indiana front office know where she stands. Taking a page from Whoopi Goldberg’s playbook, she posted an Instagram story captioned: “Pay=play. No pay, no play. Only one motto over these waters.”
If that’s not a mic drop, what is?
Now, let’s rewind a bit. Last season, Mitchell and Clark—fresh off her record-breaking rookie campaign—formed a dynamic duo with Aliyah Boston to power the Fever into the playoffs. They had Indiana fans believing again, something that hadn’t happened in, oh, about eight years. Yet, when it comes to paying up, the Fever’s front office is suddenly all crickets.
Mitchell’s Contract Drama: Fever’s Front Office on the Hot Seat
Mitchell’s final year saw her bank $206,000, putting her among the top earners in this year’s crop of unrestricted free agents. (Yes, that’s right, Kelsey Mitchell and “free agent” are now in the same sentence, and Fever fans are sweating like they’re courtside in a heatwave). In comparison, Breanna Stewart, the 2024 MVP and walking highlight reel, took home $205,000.
Now, according to Spotrac, the Fever have $657,639 in cap space to make their moves this offseason, and the max salary for a player next season is set at $214,466. So, they can theoretically pay Mitchell what she’s asking for—assuming they don’t want her packing her bags for a team that actually values a player who, you know, carried them through the toughest parts of the season.
Indiana’s front office must be feeling the heat. Do they keep the core of Clark, Mitchell, and Boston together, or do they roll the dice with someone else and hope for a miracle?
Caitlin Clark on Mitchell: “She Makes My Life Easier” (Hint, Hint, Fever)
Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark, who has quickly become Indiana’s golden child, didn’t mince words when talking about how much Kelsey Mitchell means to the team. After a thrilling 110-109 victory over the Dallas Wings last September, where Clark posted a casual 35 points, eight assists, and three steals, she sang Mitchell’s praises:
“She makes my life easier out there,” Clark said, likely hoping the Fever’s front office was listening. “It’s hard to pick and choose. It puts the defense in a really tough spot… I think we just understand each other a lot better now… I’m really happy for her and proud of her.”
Mitchell’s stat line that night? A cool 30 points on 12-for-21 shooting, with six three-pointers, because of course. The duo was unstoppable, and Fever fans were left wondering what the ceiling would be if these two kept playing together. (Spoiler: It’s sky-high.)
The Fever’s Options: Pay Up or Pack It Up
The Fever have options, but none of them are easy. If they want to keep Mitchell, they’ve got to open the checkbook. And if they let her walk, well, they better have a solid plan B—because Clark might be “happy for her,” but she sure as heck won’t be happy watching her drop dimes for another team.
So, Indiana, the ball’s in your court. Will you pay up, or will you risk losing one of the players who helped make you relevant again? One thing’s for sure: Kelsey Mitchell won’t be waiting around for long.
