Kelsey Mitchell has been around for some time, enough to see the WNBA change with the arrival of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. The Indiana Fever veteran believes that their arrival is part of a larger shift that’s bringing new attention and opportunities to women’s basketball.
Reese and Clark entered the WNBA in 2024 as two of the most recognizable players from a highly anticipated rookie class. Their transition to becoming pros generated a lot of attention after their college rivalry carried into the league.
The two young stars’ impact immediately translated to the court, as the WNBA experienced its highest total attendance in 22 years at the time. Average attendance in 2024 rose by 48%, while 154 games sold out, with Reese and Clark driving engagement and demand for WNBA games.
For her part, Mitchell talked about the two in her cover story for SLAM magazine and shared why gatekeeping the league from these young hoopers won’t work out.
“You can’t gatekeep,” Mitchell said. “It would only pigeonhole our game. When Angel Reese and CC came in … it opened up so many doors for us.”
Mitchell has been teammates with Clark for three seasons now. During that span, the two have become All-Stars in the league and have set a number of records for Indiana. At the same time, she and Clark have battled it out with Reese, with their games always drawing attention.
Women’s basketball is becoming more prominent, especially with Clark and Reese at the forefront of the growth of the sport. With vets like Mitchell guiding the way, the future of the WNBA is certainly in good hands.
