Kelsey Mitchell’s Monster Week Earns Player of the Week Honors, Keeping Fever Alive Without Caitlin Clark

The Indiana Fever’s season has been anything but easy, but on Tuesday the team got something to celebrate: guard Kelsey Mitchell was named the WNBA’s Eastern Conference Player of the Week for Week 11 of the 2025 season.

Head coach Stephanie White gathered her players in the locker room to share the announcement, a moment caught on video and shared by the Fever on X. “I wouldn’t be here without y’all, so I appreciate y’all,” Mitchell told her teammates, before one player quipped back, “We wouldn’t be here without you,” sparking laughter throughout the room.

A Career-Defining Season

Now in her eighth WNBA season — all with Indiana since being drafted second overall in 2018 out of Ohio State — Mitchell has firmly established herself as one of the league’s premier scorers.

Entering the week, she led the league in total points and ranked tied for third in points per game (20.4). She already owns the Fever’s franchise record for most career 30-point games (11), surpassing team legend Tamika Catchings.

This year, however, Mitchell’s game has expanded beyond just scoring. Her averages tell the story:

• 35 games played (all starts)

• 20.4 points, 3.4 assists, 1.9 rebounds, 0.9 steals

• 45.1% FG, 38.6% 3PT, 77% FT
  

  

  
  

Historic Performances

Mitchell’s dominance was especially clear in recent marquee games.

• 38 points in an overtime win over Connecticut on Sunday, tying her career high and matching a franchise record.

• 34 points in a tough loss to Los Angeles on Aug. 5.

• 35 points, 6 assists, and 3 steals in a win against Chicago on July 27.

It’s no surprise the WNBA recognized her performances from Aug. 12–18, where she averaged 25.3 points, 5.7 assists, and 2.3 rebounds.

Her week included:

• Aug. 12 vs. Dallas: 24 points, six rebounds, two assists, one steal.

• Aug. 15 vs. Washington: 14 points, nine assists.

• Aug. 17 at Connecticut: 38 points, six assists, two steals.

This marks Mitchell’s fourth career Player of the Week award and her second this season. She now joins Tamika Catchings (11) and Katie Douglas (4) as the only Fever players with at least four such honors.

Carrying the Fever Through Adversity

Perhaps most impressive is that Mitchell has achieved all this while the Fever have been ravaged by injuries. Rookie star Caitlin Clark remains sidelined with a groin injury, while Aari McDonald and Sydney Colson suffered season-ending setbacks.

Despite that, Indiana stands at 19–16, third in the Eastern Conference, with Mitchell’s consistency as a primary reason why.

Her ability to not only score but also create for teammates has kept the Fever afloat in the playoff race. As White put it, Mitchell’s leadership has been just as valuable as her stats.

A Legacy in the Making

For years, Mitchell has been viewed as one of the WNBA’s most consistent guards. But this season may go down as her most complete yet. With her name alongside Fever greats like Catchings and Douglas in the record books, Mitchell is steadily crafting a legacy of her own in Indiana.

If Clark’s return gives Indiana the extra boost they need, the Fever could become one of the most dangerous teams in the postseason — thanks in large part to the stability Mitchell has provided.

As her coach and teammates reminded her this week, it’s not just about what she does individually, but how she keeps the entire team moving forward.