The Indiana Fever bounced back in a big way from Wednesday night's disappointing 106-92 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks with a 92-89 win over the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday night. In a night when star point guard Caitlin Clark was out to manage a lingering back issue, her All-Star running mate in the frontcourt, Kelsey Mitchell, stepped up in a big way.
Mitchell ended the night with eight **** ists and 29 points, including a clutch go-ahead lay-up with just over 10 seconds remaining in regulation. After the game, Fever head coach Stephanie White sang her veteran guard's praises.
"You know, she's one of one. She's the fastest player in the league with the ball in her hand," White said of Mitchell. "You know, her ability to get downhill is always great, but her ability to stop and change direction on a dime. You know, now her ability to gear down and then explode again as opposed to just being all one speed, to playing on balance, to be able to find— I thought the kick-out that she made to (Ty Harris) when Ty knocked down that 3. Big shot.
"When she could have, you know, tried to go one-on-one was huge. I mean, I think the game's— it's fast, but it also slowed down for her in a way that, you know, she's become even more deadly of a playmaker, if that's possible.
"I'm just— she puts us on her back. She really does. And she scores while people are hanging on her all the time. She's able to get open while people are hanging on her all the time. I mean, her endurance is incredible. You know, we rely heavily on her, and I'm thankful she's on our team."
Mitchell ended the night with eight **** ists and 29 points, including a clutch go-ahead lay-up with just over 10 seconds remaining in regulation. After the game, Fever head coach Stephanie White sang her veteran guard's praises.
"You know, she's one of one. She's the fastest player in the league with the ball in her hand," White said of Mitchell. "You know, her ability to get downhill is always great, but her ability to stop and change direction on a dime. You know, now her ability to gear down and then explode again as opposed to just being all one speed, to playing on balance, to be able to find— I thought the kick-out that she made to (Ty Harris) when Ty knocked down that 3. Big shot.
"When she could have, you know, tried to go one-on-one was huge. I mean, I think the game's— it's fast, but it also slowed down for her in a way that, you know, she's become even more deadly of a playmaker, if that's possible.
"I'm just— she puts us on her back. She really does. And she scores while people are hanging on her all the time. She's able to get open while people are hanging on her all the time. I mean, her endurance is incredible. You know, we rely heavily on her, and I'm thankful she's on our team."
21 days ago
