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USA Today via Reuters

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USA Today via Reuters

“The amount of back-door cuts that girl has got just because we make eye contact and she knows to go back door, it’s incredible.” Caitlin Clark was full of appreciation for her backcourt partner, Kelsey Mitchell. The first playoffs for the franchise since 2016 had fans hyped until the injury scare, which puzzled many fans. But just a day before the playoff, it seems that the fans’ prayers have been answered.

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Kelsey Mitchell (ankle) said she’s available to play Sunday.” It was a report from Underdog WNBA. Also, one Indiana Fever beat writer did provide a video update for the fans. “Blue Team getting up jumpers at today’s Fever practice in Connecticut. Kelsey Mitchell is with the group too. To me, I can’t see braces of any kind/of the like.”

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Yes, after reports of her being sidelined due to an ankle injury. This is a huge boost after many reports confirmed the Ohio State graduate won’t be 100% for the playoffs. Matthew Byrne also provided a snippet of the veteran point guard explaining her injury. “I feel great. Hopefully you guys saw me, I didn’t think I looked bad. I feel great, I think for us it was just about precautions.

The Indy team had already secured their playoff berth, but coach Sides started Mitchell, Caitlin Clark, and her regular starters. But the Fever #0 went down in the first quarter with a leg injury. A more concerning moment happened when she went back to the locker room with a limp. And later returned to the bench with a brace and sat out the whole game.

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What’s next for Fever and Caitlin Clark?

But now that was all used for precaution so that the backcourt would be fresh for their first playoff matchup. At one point the Fever had a 1-8 start to the season, the Gainbridge was touted as ‘Painbridge’, but the team fought back to finish with a 20-20 record. However, with a 1-3 record against the Sun, the task doesn’t seem to get easier.

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At least with Mitchell alongside Caitlin Clark, the fans would be hoping for a better result in the latest encounter between the teams. The game was in late August, Ohio State alum provided a 23-point performance.

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Mitchell was also instrumental from beyond the arc, with 57.1% scoring 4 of 7 shots. She also is the second-highest scorer for Indiana against the Suns with 57. Plus she has a 38.9% shooting from the 3-point zone in the 4 games against the Suns. So no doubt, rookie Caitlin Clark will continue to be the main player of the attack, but Mitchell has shown this season that there was a reason why she is the franchise leader.

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Pranav Kotai

2,771 Articles

Pranav Kotai is an editor at EssentiallySports, specializing in basketball coverage with a focus on trade dynamics and front-office decision-making. Having previously worked on the Trade Desk vertical, he brought clarity to how salary cap pressures and roster needs shape NBA transactions. His insightful coverage of the Philadelphia 76ers’ decision to hold firm on Joel Embiid amid trade speculation highlights how market context and team strategy influence major roster moves. Before joining EssentiallySports, Pranav holds experience of skills in professional writing, editorial work, and digital content creation. He holds a postgraduate diploma in digital media from a reputed institute, where he mastered the tools to create engaging and credible content across various platforms. Known for his attention to detail, proficiency in storytelling, and editorial expertise, Pranav combines deep basketball knowledge with sharp analytical abilities to deliver clear, insightful perspectives on the complexities of NBA trades and team management.

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Srashti Sharma

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