An Indiana Fever vs. Dallas Wings clash is set for Day 2 of the WNBA's 30th season on May 9. However, if you ask Paige Bueckers, which Fever star she's most worried about facing, there's a good chance it won't be Caitlin Clark.

While she acknowledges Clark’s brilliance, her experience playing in Unrivaled for Breeze BC has given her a different perspective. 

And now, she has her eyes on another Indiana Fever star, Kelsey Mitchell. “She’s so herky-jerky, quick, and unpredictable,” Bueckers told Kylie Kelce on episode 51 of the Not Gonna Lie podcast.

"She has speed and athleticism, but can shoot. Everything is tough to guard," on the January 22 episode.

And Mitchell's stats reflect that versatility. She's dropped a career-high 24 points on 11-of-17 shooting against Rose BC on January 16. She’s also averaging 16.2 points per game in the league.

Paige Bueckers also explained how the Unrivaled format changes the way players approach the game. "This is a 3-on-3 experience," she said. "The court is smaller. It’s seven-minute quarters. We play to a target score. At the end of the third quarter, it’s plus-11 for whoever’s leading. You’re not playing to the buzzer. You’re playing until a team hits that score."

So there's a possibility that in a traditional WNBA setting, Mitchell’s impact could be even greater.

An Outlook for Kelsey Mitchell’s 2026 Season

Last season, Indy was limited due to injuries. But Mitchell emerged as their offensive engine, playing all 44 games. She even gave a career-high average of 20.2 points per game on 45.6% shooting.

She also knocked down 2.5 three-pointers per game while shooting an efficient 39.4% from deep. Not just that, but paired with Caitlin Clark, Kel and CC make arguably the best guard duo in the league.

With that in mind and the success she's having in Unrivaled, Mitchell looks poised to have another great WNBA season.

However, her future in Indiana remains uncertain. That’s because Mitchell is currently a free agent, and her next contract will depend on the upcoming CBA negotiations.

Written by

Yashika Dutta

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi