When we think of the Indiana Fever, we think of Caitlin Clark. For the past three seasons, Clark has been the cornerstone of the franchise, helping it build on and off the court.

However, veteran analyst Stephen A. Smith is not so sure about Clark's position as the Fever's best player, as he gave that tag to another star guard on Stephanie White's squad.

"I'm a fan of Caitlin Clark, but the best player on the Indiana Fever is Kelsey Mitchell. It's time we acknowledge that perfectly. That's not disrespect to Caitlin Clark; she can play. … She's more efficient from the field, she's more efficient from 3-point range, she protects the ball better," Smith said on ESPN's First Take on Friday.

The ESPN personality also pointed out that White usually turns to Clark whenever the Fever needs a tough basket or a buzzer-beater, even if Mitchell is more poised to make the shot than Clark.

"… Caitlin Clark is the box-office attraction, make no mistake about that, but Kelsey Mitchell is the better player for the Indiana Fever, so says this year."

And statistically, Smith might be correct in his assessment.

Clark is averaging 21.5 points, 8.0 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.7 turnovers per game. She is shooting 44.1% from the field and 34.1% from the 3-point range.

Meanwhile, Mitchell is putting up 24.1 points, 2.7 assists, 1.5 rebounds, and just 1.8 turnovers per game. The veteran guard is shooting an impressive 50.4% from the field and 43.9% from 3-point range.

Smith's claim that Mitchell is the Fever's best player this season makes sense, while Clark remains the biggest draw.

While Smith has gone for comparison, Fever fans should be grateful that they have Clark and Mitchell working together.

Clark and Mitchell, Not Clark vs Mitchell

Rather than framing it as Clark vs Mitchell, the conversation should be around the Fever having the most dangerous backcourt duo in the WNBA today.

In an average Fever game, Clark and Mitchell account for more than half of the points scored, and their elite consistency is one of the reasons why Indiana is now viewed as one of the favorites for the WNBA championship this season.

Indiana’s real advantage is having two elite offensive weapons, and Stephanie White has the luxury of choosing between Clark’s playmaking and Mitchell’s efficiency depending on the situation.

And if the duo does stay consistent, the MVP honor will likely come to Indiana, be it Clark or Mitchell.

So, with Clark and Mitchell as the backcourt duo, do you think the Fever can go all the way this season? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Joy Bassy

Edited by

Joy Bassy