The WNBA is witnessing a modern-day fairytale, and it revolves around Kelsey Mitchell—Caitlin Clark’s teammate on the Indiana Fever. Once dismissed as a high-volume scorer on a perpetually bad team, Mitchell has now been officially named one of the five finalists for the 2025 WNBA Most Valuable Player award. This is not just a remarkable personal achievement; it is a stinging, undeniable victory that has left her critics and “haters” seething.

The Grinding Journey of an Underrated Talent

For years, Kelsey Mitchell was a familiar name to hardcore WNBA fans but largely ignored by mainstream media and so-called experts. She was labeled as “just a talented scorer on a bad team.” The Indiana Fever, before the arrival of Aaliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark, was a franchise lost in irrelevance, suffering through losing seasons with no true star since Tamika Catchings’ retirement.

Throughout those wilderness years, Mitchell persisted. She kept scoring, kept showing up, and kept working, even as her impressive numbers were dismissed by the outside world. She routinely put up 18, 19, or even 20 points a night while analysts yawned. They called her “one-dimensional,” “too much of an ISO player,” and claimed the Fever could not win with her style. That criticism seemed to create an invisible wall, preventing Mitchell from getting the recognition she deserved.

The Arrival of Boston and Clark: Catalyst or Competition?

The first turning point for the Indiana Fever was the arrival of Aaliyah Boston—the Rookie of the Year, All-Star, and a true foundational piece. Suddenly, Indiana had something again. People started paying attention to Fever games for the first time in a decade. But even then, Mitchell was still seen as a “secondary scorer” in the team’s new narrative.

Then, of course, Caitlin Clark entered the picture—the golden child of women’s basketball, the marketing magnet, and the star ESPN couldn’t stop showing. Overnight, the Fever went from irrelevant to the most talked-about team in the league. When Clark arrived, the assumption was that the ball would be in her hands at all times, that the team would revolve around her, and that Mitchell would fade into the background as the veteran helper.

But that didn’t happen. Contrary to expectations, Mitchell’s game didn’t shrink; it expanded. She reminded the world that she is still the engine of this offense when needed. Clark’s presence, which was supposed to overshadow her, instead amplified her. Playing alongside Caitlin opened up the floor in ways Mitchell had never seen before. Opposing defenses couldn’t just key on her anymore, and when they made the mistake of focusing too much on Clark, Mitchell cooked them, possession after possession, with mid-range jumpers, threes, and slashing drives.

A New MVP Conversation and Fuming Haters

Kelsey Mitchell’s inclusion on the MVP finalist list is something many haters are losing sleep over. The WNBA even made a special production out of this year’s announcement of the five finalists, something they didn’t bother doing before. Why now? Because the names spark conversation, and who better to throw into that fire than Kelsey Mitchell, who has been quietly torching defenses for years without much recognition? Suddenly, she is unavoidable.

For years, Mitchell was compared to other guards and always came up short in media conversations. Critics said she was a “black hole on offense” and “couldn’t lead a winning team.” Now, the very same people have to admit that her production, her consistency, and her impact on Indiana’s rise are MVP caliber. That’s the kind of reversal that gets under the skin of critics who built their brands off pretending Mitchell wasn’t that good.

Mitchell likely won’t win MVP—Asia Wilson is the clear favorite. But her candidacy isn’t about winning; it’s about recognition. It’s about making people admit they were wrong to act like she didn’t belong in the top tier of guards. It’s about putting her name in the conversation where it always should have been.

The Indiana Fever: From Obscurity to the Center of the Sports World

For a franchise that was rotting in irrelevance for a decade, this is a complete turnaround. Remember when people said Indiana couldn’t attract stars? Now they have three. Remember when people said Mitchell was just a scorer? Now she’s an MVP finalist. Remember when they said the Fever would crumble under the hype of Caitlin Clark’s arrival? Instead, the roster is producing award-level seasons.

One of the funniest parts of this story is how fans from other teams can’t stand it. Liberty fans want Brianna Stewart in there; Lynx fans want more love for Kayla McBride; Aces fans think the award shouldn’t even require a vote. And in the middle of that chaos sits Kelsey Mitchell, quietly smiling because she knows she’s making people mad simply by existing in the top five. Even Fever fans are a little shocked, not because they didn’t believe in her, but because they got so used to the league ignoring her. Now, the same league has to celebrate her, and it’s almost uncomfortable for those who spent years brushing her off.

Synergy with Clark and Coaching Influence

Mitchell’s fit next to Clark is also a thing of beauty. Everyone assumed Clark’s arrival would mean Mitchell would be phased out, maybe even traded. “Too many guards, too many egos, too much overlap.” Instead, the opposite happened. Clark’s presence gave Mitchell room to attack defenses that couldn’t double her anymore. When Clark stretched the floor with her deep shooting, Mitchell sliced through gaps and got to the rim. When Clark drew attention with flashy passes, Mitchell feasted off the space. It’s not competition; it’s synergy.

Mitchell has also benefited from the Fever finally having a coach who knows what to do with her. Under Stephanie White, Mitchell was given the freedom to be the first option when necessary but in a structured offense that maximized her strengths. No more just “give her the ball and hope.” Now, sets are run to get her open looks, and plays are drawn to leverage her speed. White unlocked a version of Mitchell that had been hiding in plain sight.

The Final Validation

The comparisons to Allen Iverson are funny but not wrong. Mitchell is undersized, lightning-quick, and impossible to stay in front of when she’s locked in. She has that same relentless scorer mentality. If she’s on the court, she’s looking to put the ball in the basket. And while she might not be a league MVP like Iverson was, the style similarities are there. She’s the WNBA’s version of a guard who refuses to be ignored.

Of course, some people will still nitpick. They’ll point out that she doesn’t rebound much, that she’s not an elite playmaker, and that her defense is average. But MVP conversations aren’t about being flawless; they’re about value. And this year, Mitchell’s value to the Fever was undeniable. Without her, Clark’s transition into the league would have been rougher. Without her, Boston would have faced double teams every possession. Without her, Indiana would not be in the playoff mix. That’s value, plain and simple.

Kelsey Mitchell’s MVP finalist spot is also a reminder that longevity matters. She’s not a rookie sensation like Caitlin Clark; she’s not a one-year wonder. Mitchell has been here since 2018, grinding through losing seasons, carrying an invisible franchise on her shoulders, and waiting for this moment. That persistence is why her finalist spot feels so deserved and why it stings her critics so much.

So yes, the haters are fuming. They can’t believe someone they spent years dismissing is now being celebrated. They can’t believe Indiana, of all franchises, suddenly has multiple stars in award conversations. They can’t believe Mitchell is no longer easy to ignore. But that’s the reality. She earned it. She forced her way into the spotlight through persistence, production, and patience. And now the league has no choice but to recognize her.