May be an image of 1 person, playing basketball and playing volleyball

Kelsey Mitchell has been with the Indiana Fever for the past seven seasons. However, it’s only recently that she’s emerged as a bit of a household name, especially for casual WNBA fans out there.

Even Mitchell herself attributes this rise to fame to Caitlin Clark. The rookie sensation has taken the league by storm since she arrived as Indiana’s first overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. And now, along with Mitchell and the rest of the Fever, Clark has led Indiana to their first playoff berth since 2016.

On Thursday, September 19, ahead of their matchup against the Washington Mystics, Mitchell spoke to reporters about the impact Clark has had not only on the league and the Fever but on her on a personal level. The two-time All-Star admitted that all this would not have been possible had it not been for Caitlin.

“I think the reality of it is that I don’t think people wouldn’t know without C² (Caitlin Clark), so shout out to Caitlin,” Mitchell said. “That’s just the reality.

Mitchell also considered herself an “under-the-radar” player prior to Clark joining the Fever.

“But for me, I kinda laugh at it and embrace it at the same time because I’ve always kinda flew under the radar,” she explained. “I’ve always kinda been that player (who’s) very conservative, very introvert. Now I get to see the flip side of it, it’s kinda funny. I can laugh about it because I know it’s coming from a genuine place.”

Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell

Mitchell went on to admit, though, that this privilege also comes with a lot of pressure. The 28-year-old is well aware of the expectations she has to face as Caitlin Clark’s teammate and as a member of the Indiana Fever. At this point, the veteran just has one wish.

“I embrace it from a standpoint of people not guaranteed to see me play,” she continued. “Now that they do, I just hope I do right by it. I just hope I don’t F it up.”

Mitchell will get a chance to prove herself when the stakes are the highest as the Fever make their final preparations for their first playoff appearance in eight years — the first in Kelsey’s career.

Indiana enters the postseason as the No. 6 seed and will battle either the two-time defending champions Las Vegas Aces or the Connecticut Sun, who are both still battling for the No. 3 seed.