On a night when Bam Adebayo handed A’ja Wilson her MVP trophy, the script was supposed to be about the league’s best player shining brightest. Instead, Kelsey Mitchell stole the spotlight. The Fever guard not only reminded everyone why she belonged in the MVP conversation, but also delivered a record-breaking performance that powered Indiana to a statement 89-73 win over the Aces in Game 1 of the semifinals. And from the sidelines, Caitlin Clark could only sit back and marvel at the magic unfolding.

Mitchell poured in 34 points on 12-of-23 shooting, drilling four treys as well, in what turned out to be a history-making performance. Her outing included-

• First-career 30-point playoff game.
• the second-highest scoring output by a Fever player in playoff history
• the most points ever by a WNBA player in their first career semifinal game

Even Caitlin Clark couldn’t stay quiet, taking to X to sum it up in two simple words: “Kelsey unreal.” And for Mitchell, it’s bound to feel emotional, who, before Game 1, was thinking about all the times she could have quit.

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Nobody could have imagined the Fever opening their semifinal series with a win over an Aces team that stormed into the playoffs on a 16-game winning streak, especially after Caitlin Clark was limited to just 13 games, Damiris Dantas was ruled out, and four other players were lost to season-ending injuries. But despite it all, one constant has carried them through: Kelsey Mitchell rising to the moment when her team needs her most.

And she’s been doing this since forever. “Everyone deserves a Kelsey Mitchell on their team,” veteran reserve Brianna Turner said. “But they don’t get it, because we get her.”

Kelsey Mitchell could have walked away, and many would have understood. The Fever once played in a barn at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, and players often leave for less. Yet years of patience are paying off. In her first WNBA semifinals, Mitchell is reaping the rewards. A milestone that’s more emotional after years without proper recognition.  “That’s the growth,” Mitchell said. “That’s the experience, that’s the being at the bottom of the barrel, that’s the not being on anybody’s radar and being a loser. So I’ve seen that. I know what that looks like.”

The day before Game 1, Mitchell admitted she kept lists, of the moments she could have quit, the coaches who doubted her, and the media outlets that ignored her, despite being a top-10 scorer since her third season. But she never criticized her team, never sat out, or demanded a trade – even when the Fever mismanaged draft opportunities around Mitchell, the 2018 No. 2 pick. She’s been through what Stephanie White calls the “worst parts of this franchise,” and that’s why she “deserves to go through the best”. 

Heading into the postseason, Mitchell was having the best season of her career–averaging 20.2 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists across 44 games while playing 31.4 minutes per outing. She became the first player this season to hit 100 three-pointers and only the first in WNBA history to reach that milestone three times. Yet, despite all that, the panel of sportswriters and broadcasters who decide the WNBA MVP felt Mitchell didn’t deserve it.

Not a single one ranked her in their top three. She received 15 fourth-place votes and 48 fifth-place votes. But with her Game 1 performance, she answered her critics in the most emphatic way possible. And the Aces and A’ja Wilson knew a fight was coming, after all, Mitchell has been excellent in the playoffs so far, averaging 26.0 points per game.

Mitchell Dominates Despite Aces’ Gameplan in Caitlin Clark’s Absence

A’ja Wilson knew just how good Kelsey Mitchell had been for the Fever this season and knew she was going to be very difficult to contain. Soon after beating the Seattle Storm, Wilson laid out a game plan for the Aces to handle Mitchell.

“Our biggest one is just going to be containing the basketball without fouling. I mean, Kelsey Mitchell’s having one heck of a year and, uh, it’s going to be hard to slow her down, but it’s not going to be just me and Jackie. It’s going to have to take all of us on the defensive end. And that’s what we’re going to have to really lock in on — just playing defense the right way and being on time and having layers to it. That’s what’s going to be my initial thought, and I’m sure Becky will probably say the same.”

In theory, this definitely looked like the right play given the fact that Mitchell did struggle in the past when opponents were tight on her, giving her no space to operate, as was the case when the Fever played the Valkyries last time. She was held to just 14 points on 4-of-14 shooting from the field and 2-of-10 from beyond the arc, thanks to the relentless defense of Veronica Burton, Kalia Charles, and the rest of the Valkyries’ squad. But the Aces weren’t able to execute it. Not only did they commit more fouls than the Fever, but the Aces also let them shoot 50% from the field, which is the last thing you would want.

Moving forward, the Aces’ defense will have to work overtime to slow down Mitchell. With Caitlin Clark out, it’s Mitchell who’s carrying the Fear factor now. Do you think the Aces can mount a comeback in the series? Let us know in the comments below.