CHICAGO, IL - AUGUST 08: Kelsey Mitchell 0 of the Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark 22 of the Indiana Fever during a game against the Chicago Sky on August 8, 2026 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire WNBA, Basketball Damen, USA AUG 08 Indiana Fever at Chicago Sky EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon260808201
CHICAGO, IL - AUGUST 08: Kelsey Mitchell 0 of the Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark 22 of the Indiana Fever during a game against the Chicago Sky on August 8, 2026 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire WNBA, Basketball Damen, USA AUG 08 Indiana Fever at Chicago Sky EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon260808201
The Indiana Fever celebrated their backcourt without picking a side, while sports analyst Jason Whitlock apparently didn’t buy it.
"Indiana Fever 'both-sidesing' the issue," Whitlock wrote on X on August 28, reacting to the team's honor to Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell.
The X post was about the duo's chemistry, captioned "MVP² Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell, a backcourt duo unlike any we have ever seen before in WNBA history."
Six words were all Whitlock needed to sum up what he saw in it, being a franchise refusing to commit, per his X post.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JULY 18: Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark 22 drives past New York Liberty guard Marine Fauthoux 4 in the first half of play during a WNBA, Basketball Damen, USA game between the New York Liberty and the Indiana Fever on July 18, 2026 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN. Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire WNBA: JUL 18 New York Liberty at Indiana Fever EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon071826071
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JULY 18: Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark 22 drives past New York Liberty guard Marine Fauthoux 4 in the first half of play during a WNBA, Basketball Damen, USA game between the New York Liberty and the Indiana Fever on July 18, 2026 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN. Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire WNBA: JUL 18 New York Liberty at Indiana Fever EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon071826071
That reaction fits squarely into commentary Whitlock has been building for weeks. He's argued repeatedly that Mitchell, not Clark, is the Fever's real MVP, claiming she's the one carrying the scoring burden against top defenses while the media keeps the spotlight on Clark.
By branding the Clark-Mitchell "MVP²" instead of naming one over the other, Indiana avoided taking a side in that debate, which is exactly what Whitlock flagged.
According to Elaine Blum of High Post Hoops, Mitchell has scored at least 20 points in 23 straight games, a league record, including six 30-point outings during that stretch.
She also kept that pace even against tough defenses, once scoring 20 on 7-of-16 shooting against Golden State.
The Fever aren't choosing sides, and the stats show why
Indiana's X post followed a Sunday blowout of Chicago where Clark and Mitchell combined for 67 points, as per Angelo Guinhawa of Athlon Sports.
Clark finished with 37 points, 10 assists, and a career-high eight three-pointers, while Mitchell added 30 on 6-of-9 shooting from deep.
That game marked the third time in their careers both have scored 30-plus in the same outing, which Indiana says is the most such games by any duo in league history.
The Fever leaned into that stat with the caption "no better backcourt duo in the league."
Mitchell ranks second, averaging 24.8 points, while Clark closely follows as third, averaging 22.1 points. A'ja Wilson is the league leader. While Clark leads in assists at 8.3 a game.
Whitlock can call it dodging the question. But when your two guards are both sitting in the league's top five scorers, maybe there isn't a side to pick.
Clark and Mitchell just keep playing the way they've been playing, and let people argue about what to call it.
What are your thoughts on the X post by Jason Whitlock? Let us know in the comments.
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Written by
Rudra Dubey