Stephanie White, on Clark and Mitchell: “Both are legitimate MVP candidates”

Stephanie White had no doubts when speaking about her two players’ chances. The Indiana Fever coach argued that Clark and Mitchell should be considered among the candidates for the WNBA’s top individual award, although she focused not only on their statistics, but also on the influence both have on the team’s collective performance.

White spoke about her players' candidacies in the interview before Friday's game against Toronto Tempo. Hours later, Indiana won 103-85, with 28 points and 14 assists from Clark and 33 points from Mitchell, for a combined total of 61 points between the two.

"White highlights the influence of her two stars: “They’re not just numbers”

The coach acknowledged the importance of individual statistics in evaluating an MVP candidate , but pointed out that a player's impact on her team should also be part of the debate.

“When you think about the MVP, obviously the numbers stand out. I think it’s also about the impact you have on your team. Obviously, it’s something that can spark debate, but how can you elevate your team in addition to putting up excellent numbers?”, White explained.

The coach believes that both Clark and Mitchell have managed to translate their individual production into Indiana's collective performance . For White, the value of an MVP candidate should not be limited to the accumulation of statistics, but also to their ability to elevate the team's performance.

White gave concrete examples of what her two stars bring. In Mitchell's case, she highlighted her scoring production and, especially, the efficiency with which she gets her points. Regarding Clark, she emphasized the combination of scoring and playmaking through her assists.

“I think both have been able to do that for our team”

And she was even more explicit in assessing their candidacies: “When you look at the scoring numbers, Kelsey’s are certainly there, but so is the efficiency with which she’s doing it. Caitlin, in scoring and assists, has been off the charts, and I think both are legitimate MVP candidates.”

Clark and Mitchell's numbers

Clark and Mitchell have been two of Indiana's main offensive weapons during the season. The production of both has also fueled the debate about their place in the MVP conversation.

Mitchell is averaging 25.2 points per game in 41 contests. Clark, who has missed four games this season, is posting 22.6 points, 8.5 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game in 37 appearances.

The performance against Toronto reinforced those numbers even further . Clark finished the game with 28 points, six rebounds and 14 assists, while Mitchell contributed 33 points to lead, together with her teammate, Indiana's offensive production in the 103-85 victory.

The game also marked a historic milestone for Mitchell. Her 33 points allowed her to surpass A"ja Wilson's record for points scored in a WNBA season , which had been set at 1,021. Mitchell reached 1,034 points in the campaign.

Clark, meanwhile, returned to competition after the break caused by the FIBA Women’s World Cup and delivered one of her most outstanding performances of the season. With her 14 assists, she also reached her tenth career game with at least 25 points and 10 assists, according to data released by the Indiana Fever.

Beyond the statistical production, the importance of both in Fever's offense has been one of the central elements of Indiana's performance during the decisive stretch of the regular season.

A race for the MVP with Wilson at the center

White's backing comes in an MVP race in which A"ja Wilson appears as the clear favorite in the available odds. Olivia Miles , a Minnesota Lynx rookie, is listed second in those odds..

Clark appears third or fourth in that hierarchy and Mitchell, far behind, despite her historic season. The coach’s words immediately spread on social media, where a large share of the reactions reminded her that the award seems all but decided in favor of the Las Vegas player.

In that context, Mitchell's candidacy takes on a special dimension after her historic performance in Toronto, while Clark maintains her place in the conversation thanks to a season in which she combines high scoring production with an exceptional volume of assists.

Four games to decide home-court advantage

The debate over the MVP coincides with an equally important battle for Indiana in the standings. The win over Toronto left the Fever with a 27-14 record and kept the team firmly in contention for one of the positions that grant home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Indiana now faces the final games of the regular season with the goal of securing the best possible position before the postseason. The next game will be this Sunday, September 20 against the Washington Mystics, in Indiana, before closing out the regular season with two matchups against the Minnesota Lynx.

The fight for playoff positioning adds even more importance to Clark and Mitchell’s performance in the final games. Both will continue sharing the spotlight on the Fever’s offense as Indiana tries to close out the regular season in the best position possible.

White's assessment thus adds a new element to an MVP race in which Clark's and Mitchell's numbers, their respective impacts on Indiana, and the outcome of the regular season will continue to fuel the debate.