Fever fans were on edge this season, worried about their playoff chances, especially with star player Caitlin Clark out of the series. But the team proved they were still hot. The Indiana Fever beat the Las Vegas Aces 90-83 in Game 4 of their first-round WNBA semifinal series. After finishing the regular season 24-20 and defeating the Atlanta Dream 2-1 in the first round, the best-of-five series is now tied 2-2. Kelsey Mitchell delivered, and her coach Stephanie White made sure she got her flowers.

White said, “I first and foremost, just an extreme amount of pride, um, for her. You know, she has been through a lot um you know, with this franchise and and and the second thing is just, you know, pride in her work and how much work she’s put in to position herself to be in this moment. She loves this game. She just wants to play. Um and and I’m incredibly proud of her. I’m thankful that our fans continue to recognize her greatness…So, she’s finally getting her flowers.”

Due to all the injuries, the team leaned on Kelsey Mitchell, and rightly so, as she has been with the franchise for eight years now, playing in over 277 games and logging 8,466 minutes, always a reliable starter. That trust clearly paid off in Game 4.

After struggling in previous games, 21 points on 30.8% shooting in Game 3 and just 28.6% in Game 2, Mitchell returned to form when it mattered most. Alongside forward Aliyah Boston, she scored a team-high 25 points on 9-of-20 shooting, added a couple of triples, and went 5-for-6 from the free-throw line, carrying the Fever when it mattered the most.

Mitchell set the tone early with a pair of three-pointers and nine points in the first 10 minutes, then kept up the pressure throughout the final 20 minutes against Las Vegas. Speaking at halftime to SportsCenter about her aggressive approach, she said, “I think it’s about finding it right next, the right past, finding a right next one for right right next person and just stand aggressive to see that in order to see it. I got to be aggressive.” And that aggressiveness didn’t let fans miss Clark for even a single minute. 

Kelsey Mitchell: The MVP everyone wanted

The atmosphere at Gainbridge Fieldhouse during Game 4 could be summed up in one word: ‘MVP!’ Fans were chanting for Kelsey Mitchell, the player who has carried the Indiana Fever through six losing seasons and five head coaches. Through it all, she stayed loyal, led the league with 111 three-pointers, scored 890 points, and dragged Indiana into the playoffs. Yet when the MVP votes came in, Mitchell finished fifth with 93 points, a result that left many scratching their heads. 

WNBA reporter Rachel DeMita summed it up perfectly, saying, “I do kind of think that Kelsey Mitchell has flown under the radar this whole season. If you see the kind of turmoil and all the things that the Fever have been through. In the way that Kelsey Mitchell has really put this team on her back, especially with Caitlin being out and scoring the way that she has scored this season.” Mitchell played every game, never dipped into single digits, and kept the Fever moving through the Dream and into the semifinals. 

DeMita added another reason why Mitchell doesn’t get the recognition she deserves: “I think another reason that Kelsey Mitchell flies under the radar is because she’s not like a super animated or flashy player. She really just goes out there, goes to work, gets the job done.” Unlike many stars who celebrate loudly after big moments, Mitchell quietly goes about her business. She didn’t throw her arms up after forcing a Game 3 against Atlanta, or after the Dream upset, or even after dropping a playoff career-high 34 points in Vegas to stun the Aces in Game 1.

Despite the MVP going to A’ja Wilson, and Napheesa Collier and Alyssa Thomas being the only other players to receive first-place votes, the chants in the stadium and the way Mitchell carried her team show that her impact was undeniable. The fans knew it, and on Game 4, the echoes of “MVP!” told the story better than any trophy could.