Kelsey Mitchell, Caitlin Clark’s teammate with the Indiana Fever, wants to get paid in free agency. [photo: Imagn]

Kelsey Mitchell formed an All-Star backcourt with Caitlin Clark last season. The two, along with Aliyah Boston, carried the Fever to their first playoff appearance since 2016. Indiana’s front office, which wants to lean on the same trio, must spend to keep the core together.

Mitchell’s three-year, $618,000 contract expired following the Fever’s playoff elimination at the hands of the Connecticut Sun in September. She made it clear with a story on Instagram about where she stands when contract negotiations start:

“pay=play

“No pay-no play

“Only one motto over these waters” Mitchell wrote in the caption of the story.

Caitlin Clark’s teammate, Kelsey Mitchell, wants to get paid in free agency. [photo: @kelz_hoop/IG]

The clip Mitchell used to make her point clear was an interview featuring Whoopi Goldberg. The legendary actress had this to say about what makes her excited to work:

“Getting paid! I do enjoy a paycheck. I’m not gonna lie.”

In Kelsey Mitchell’s final year with the Indiana Fever, she earned $206,000, the sixth-highest among the current crop of unrestricted free agents. Breanna Stewart, the two-time MVP who led the New York Liberty to the 2024 championship, got $205,000.

Per Spotrac, the Fever have $657,639 remaining cap space, which the team could use to give Mitchell a new deal. Per the same source, the max salary is $214,466 for next year. She could get a two-year, $428, 932 offer from the team’s front office.

Caitlin Clark once said Kelsey Mitchell makes her “life easier”

Although a rookie, Caitlin Clark quickly became the Indiana Fever’s top player. She set multiple WNBA and league records on her way to winning the Rookie of the Year award. Clark has repeatedly credited her teammates, particularly Kelsey Mitchell for helping her.

In a 110-109 win against the Dallas Wings in mid-September, Clark had this to say about playing with Mitchell:

“She makes my life easier out there. It’s hard to pick and choose. It puts the defense in a really tough spot… I think we really just read and understand each other a lot better from where we were at the beginning of the season… I’m really happy for her and proud of her.”

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In that game, Clark had 35 points, eight assists and three steals. Mitchell had 30 points on 12-for-21 shooting, including 6-for-12 from deep. If the Fever wants to see more of that partnership in the future, they will have to spend to sustain that.