Caitlin Clark Upset by teammate's comments about playing in her spotlight

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark stated she was "upset" by comments made by teammate Kelsey Mitchell, who recently said she receives "a lot of flak" from fans due to playing in Clark's spotlight. Clark addressed the remarks during her end-of-season press conference.

"As her teammate, it makes you upset, because you care about your teammates so much," Clark said. "You don’t want any of them to go through something like that." She acknowledged the intense public scrutiny that accompanies her presence and how it can affect those around her.

Clark also expressed disappointment with individuals who have used her platform to promote racist rhetoric, hate, or discrimination, stating, "that’s not something I stand for. It’s never been something I’ve stood for." She emphasized that such actions do not align with her values or upbringing.

Following the Fever's playoff exit on October 1, Clark spoke with Mitchell, an unrestricted free agent. Clark conveyed her strong desire for Mitchell to remain with the team, calling her the ideal backcourt partner. "There’s nobody I’d want to share a backcourt with other than her," Clark stated. "I think we had the best season of any back court in the WNBA in the league’s history with what we were able to do."

Clark highlighted her admiration for Mitchell's game, saying, "I often tell her, ‘I feel like I have the best seat in the house every single night. I get to watch you do your thing and be right next to you and be on the other side of the ball with you.’" She added that the organization is committed to re-signing Mitchell and will actively recruit her.

Mitchell had previously voiced her perspective during her exit interview, noting the challenges of competing under constant observation. "Playing with CC and having the eyes that she got, we get a lot of flak just for being on her team," Mitchell said, adding that "people gotta give us grace" and that being herself "hasn’t always been easy."

Clark mentioned that Mitchell also received MVP chants from fans during the season. The duo’s combined scoring average of 47 points per game made them the highest-scoring teammates in WNBA history. Mitchell achieved a career-best 24.7 points per game this season, positioning herself in MVP discussions.