Analyst Jason Whitlock has recently directed his criticism towards the notion that Caitlin Clark, not Kelsey Mitchell, is the pillar supporting the Indiana Fever. He argued that putting Mitchell down to raise Clark up was a “sickness”.

Recently, Whitlock posted on X, comparing Mitchell's performance to Clark’s. The analyst didn’t try to put down Clark’s achievements. But he believes Mitchell plays a greater role in the Fever's success than people give her credit for.

“Kelsey Mitchell is having a historic season in terms of offensive efficiency from a guard. We may never see this again. But in the name of CC, we must pretend like what Kelsey is doing has no real value. It's comical and sick,” Whitlock said on X on August 22.

Whitlock pointed out that due to the hype surrounding Caitlin Clark, the accomplishments of Kelsey Mitchell, Aliyah Boston, and Lexie Hull, who formed the Fever’s core along with Clark, were often overlooked.

He further explained that he understood why the hype was a “business decision”, fueled by the Clark’s large array of off-field brand deals, with brands like Nike. However, he firmly believed that Mitchell’s MVP chances were greater than Clark’s.

“Spending all season building up CC as the MVP when her teammate is clearly having a better season is a sickness. CC has a chance to be the GOAT if she ever cleans up her lack of emotional control.  I hope it happens. But this year she's been outplayed on her own roster,” Whitlock added.

Per ESPN, Clark recorded 738 points (21.7 PPG), 280 assists (8.2 APG), and 131 rebounds (3.85 RPG), along with  35.4% in 3-point percentage in the 2026 season.

Meanwhile, Mitchell recorded 937points (24.7 PPG), 104 assists (2.7 APG), and 63 rebounds (1.66 RPG). She also has a 44.8% 3-point percentage, narrowly beating out Clark. 

While it is debatable if Mitchell is having a better season than Clark, it is clear that both Indiana Fever stars are playing at an MVP level.

Why Kelsey Mitchell deserves to be in the MVP contention

Currently, Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson is the overwhelming favorite to win the 2026 WNBA MVP. However, she is not the only one. Minnesota Lynx rookie guard Olivia Miles and Fever guard Clark are also names that pop up frequently in the conversation.  

But according to an August 22 Fansided report, Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell, who has put together an impressive season, also deserves to be in the 2026 WNBA MVP conversation. 

“Mitchell is averaging 24.6 points per contest, easily the best mark of her career and a number that ranks second in the WNBA to only Wilson. Her efficiency has also risen dramatically, as she's shooting 50.7 percent from the field,” said Fansided reporter Justin Carter.

Carter went on to mention how Mitchell had significantly cut down her turnovers down to ninth-lowest in the league. She is also leading the WNBA in terms of offensive win shares.

Carter’s sentiments echo Whitlock’s in this respect, with both claiming that Mitchell deserves more recognition in the WNBA, rather than being overshadowed by the hype surrounding her Fever teammate.

Written by

Arundhoti Palit

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit