With just 5.8 seconds remaining on Friday night, the Indiana Fever trailed the Connecticut Sun by two points but had possession and a chance to tie or take the lead. After trailing by as many as 15 in the fourth quarter, the Fever could not get a final shot to the basket. Kelsey Mitchell, rolling to the corner off an Aliyah Boston screen, mishandled a pass from Lexie Hull, forcing a rushed attempt from Mitchell that missed badly.

The Sun secured an 85-83 victory, marking their first win of the season. Meanwhile, the Fever dropped their third straight game and second consecutive loss without star guard Caitlin Clark in the lineup.

Coach Stephanie White reflects on the final play

Fever coach Stephanie White acknowledged the chaotic finish, saying,

“As far as the last play, it wasn’t clean, We didn’t get it in cleanly. The way it was developing, it looked like were gonna have a good look, but it just wasn’t clean.”

The four-point swing in the closing moments encapsulated Indiana’s decline in execution when it mattered most.

Kelsey Mitchell’s struggles highlight Fever’s challenges without Caitlin Clark

Kelsey Mitchell, a two-time All-Star, struggled throughout the game. She scored 13 points and recorded five assists, but her shooting was poor, converting only 4 of 15 attempts. Just two nights earlier, in a loss to the Washington Mystics, Mitchell posted 14 points and four assists on 4-of-16 shooting. Over the two games without Clark, Mitchell has managed 27 points on 8-of-31 shooting, including 2-of-11 from beyond the arc, with the Fever losing by a combined eight points.

Mitchell had a standout season in 2024 alongside Clark, forming one of the league’s most dynamic backcourts. The Fever valued her highly, granting her the core player designation to secure exclusive rights, then signing her to a one-year supermax contract that made her the highest-paid player in the WNBA.

However, through six games this season, Mitchell’s performance has not lived up to expectations. She is averaging 16.3 points—the lowest since 2019—and three assists, while shooting only 38.7%. These numbers reflect a notable regression, spotlighting the pressure on her now that Clark is sidelined.

Team outlook worsens as injuries and performance concerns mount

When Clark suffered a quad injury expected to keep her out until at least June 7, many believed Indiana’s improved roster depth and a moderate early schedule would help the team cope. Instead, inconsistent play, particularly from Mitchell, has left the Fever struggling on both ends of the floor.

Mitchell lacks Clark’s elite playmaking but was one of the league’s preeminent perimeter scorers last season, relying on quickness and outside shooting. This year, she has been forced to create more on her own against defensive schemes focused on limiting her, and the results have been disappointing, especially from long range and mid-range attempts beyond the paint.

Mitchell’s injury adds complication to her shooting woes

Mitchell is contending with a fractured middle finger on her shooting hand, an lingering issue she sustained playing overseas in China during the offseason. Mitchell revealed that the injury was left untreated while abroad during training camp, and now appears to be healing naturally.

She explained,

“Probably healing on its own now, Nothing I can really do about it… Obviously, the trainers here have taken care of me to get done with I need to get done. But there’s only so much you can do with a semi-fractured finger. It’s part of life, part of basketball at that point. Normal stuff athletes go through.”

While difficult to measure, this injury likely contributes to her shooting struggles.

Fever face pressing need for Mitchell to elevate her play amid tough stretch

Despite her injury, Mitchell’s recent performances have not met the needs of a team missing its premier scorer. The Fever risk falling deeper into a losing pattern unless she can significantly improve her efficiency and leadership on the floor during Clark’s absence. Indiana’s upcoming schedule looms challenging, and the pressure intensifies on Mitchell to step up and reverse the team’s downward trend.