Kelsey Mitchell has change into the proper backcourt operating mate with Caitlin Clark, and the 2 guards have led the Indiana Fever’s resurgence since the Olympic break. Now they’ve Indiana within the playoffs.
The group has gained six of seven and is over .500 for the first time since June 13, 2019. The Fever, who improved to 17-16 with Sunday’s win over Dallas, had gone an WNBA-record 189 straight video games with out a profitable file, based on the Elias Sports Bureau.
Indiana clinched its first playoff look since 2016 when Chicago and Atlanta each misplaced Tuesday night time. The Fever are sixth within the standings.
Mitchell is likely one of the few gamers left on the roster from the Fever’s lean years; she arrived in 2018 and hadn’t gained greater than 13 video games in any season till this yr.
“I do know what the underside looks like, and I don’t wish to be there no extra,” Mitchell stated,
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Mitchell has scored greater than 20 factors in all seven video games since the practically monthlong break for the Paris Games. She’s averaging 28.3 factors over that span — second finest within the league behind A’ja Wilson. Overall, Mitchell is having her finest season scoring, averaging 19 factors. She was Indiana’s main scorer final season, when she averaged 18.2 factors per sport.
“I believe Kelsey has been taking part in actually good basketball. She solely makes my life simpler when you will have that 1-2 combo within the backcourt,” Clark stated. “It’s lot of enjoyable for myself to play that manner. I believe we’re simply taking part in up-tempo.”
Mitchell agrees and has been having enjoyable taking part in with Clark, who leads the league in assists with 8.4 a sport.
“I believe that me and Caitlin, in addition to our group, I believe we simply discovered a manner,” Mitchell stated. “I believe our tempo is form of setting us aside from a whole lot of completely different groups. Because you prefer to get the ball up and down the courtroom at such a excessive tempo. And I believe the way in which that we play, it simply makes our video games thrive much more.”
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The Fever have six consecutive dwelling video games beginning Wednesday towards the last-place Los Angeles Sparks earlier than the regular-season finale at Washington.
