The Indiana Fever played a thriller at State Farm Arena on Sunday. The Fever, led by Caitlin Clark, played an exceptionally team-game in the overtime win. However, controversy quickly clouded the post-game storyline when a WNBA analyst, Maurice, claimed HC Stephanie White gave more of the credit to Clark’s teammate Kelsey Mitchell, when it should’ve been the other way around.
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“Stephanie White tried to make this thing about Kelsey Mitchell at the podium. That was ridiculous… I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Maurice said on his Keep The Vision podcast on YouTube.
“You tried to make this about Kelsey Mitchell when we all know she played p— poor… We all know the third quarter, Caitlin Clark had to carry this team. Without Caitlin Clark, this team would have been getting blown out. Caitlin Clark scored 12 of her 26 in the third quarter alone.”
Clark led the Fever in points and assists with 26 points and 9 assists. Meanwhile, Kelsey Mitchell contributed 20 points. However, the analyst also said that was the result of the Fever helping Kelsey Mitchell continue her 20-point-per-game streak, extending the single-season record she set on August 8.
“Indiana Fever clearly were trying to force Kelsey to get this 20-point record thing she got going on. It’s starting to become annoying and become a nuisance to the team, in my opinion.”
Mitchell struggled to start the game, and her 20 points came off 9-of-22 shooting, including 2-of-4 shots from beyond the arc.
However, the Fever HC did praise Caitlin Clark inside the locker room. “CC, what the f—. That defense was outstanding.”
According to Maurice, White was perhaps reminded to give credit to her star player after the presser.
While Caitlin Clark didn’t register any blocks or steals in the game, she refused to become the weak defensive link in the Fever’s lineup. The Fever star even took a defensive assignment on Allisha Gray on one of her best nights, but Clark didn’t back down.
“That’s about time you stop subbing her out. Offense, defense. Caitlin Clark can guard. You want to sub somebody out? Offense, defense. You sub out Kelsey Mitchell, not Caitlin Clark.”
While they play elite offensive games, Mitchell and Clark have both been average defensive players. Clark is posting a defensive rating of 109.7 points, but much better than Mitchell’s 112.9 points.
Aaliyah Boston was the Fever’s best defensive player and the most impactful player in the game. Aside from 18 points, the Fever forward recorded 14 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 steals, and 3 blocks in 37 minutes.
Perhaps she was the one deserving of the most praise from her head coach. But above all, this was a team performance from the Fever, a kind of game they needed with just nine games remaining in the regular season.
As White said, the Fever played “playoff basketball.” The Fever made micro-adjustments throughout the game, and they answered their coach’s call.