The WNBA All-Star Game is always a showcase for the league’s biggest names. But this year, there’s a real chance the MVP trophy doesn’t end up in Caitlin Clark’s hands.
Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell has been playing out of her mind to start the 2026 season. And some analysts think she could be the one walking away with All-Star Game MVP honors when the weekend wraps up in Chicago.
ESPN’s Kareem Copeland made the case pretty directly. He called this a potential Kelsey Mitchell MVP campaign and pointed to her numbers as the evidence. Mitchell is averaging a career-high 21.9 points per game while shooting 48.9% from the field — also a career best. She’s a four-time All-Star and this year she gets her first start. Her game is built on quickness and pure scoring instinct. She’s currently third in the league in scoring.
The argument here is simple: All-Star MVP tends to go to whoever scores the most points, not whoever has the biggest fanbase. And Mitchell can get buckets as fast as anyone in the league. Maybe faster. Copeland said Mitchell is arguably the fastest player in the WNBA and that her whole deal is putting the ball in the basket. That’s what wins All-Star MVPs, he argued.
Meanwhile, ESPN’s Alexa Philippou made a case for Clark, who is a three-time All-Star herself. Philippou noted that Clark had to watch from the sidelines last year when the game was held in Indianapolis. That had to sting. Now she gets her shot in Chicago and she’ll be eager to make the most of it. Philippou pointed out that guards have been taking home All-Star Game MVP pretty consistently lately — Napheesa Collier’s win in 2025 was something of an exception.
It’s not hard to imagine either player winning it. Clark is the face of the league. Mitchell has been quietly stacking up an elite season. Both will get plenty of touches and the game tends to favor scorers anyway.
The Fever have looked sharp to start 2026 even with Clark missing some time. They’re 12-8 and riding a two-game winning streak. Mitchell has been a huge part of that. If she carries that momentum into the All-Star Game, don’t be surprised if she steals the spotlight.
Next up for Indiana is a road game against the Sparks. Tip-off is at 10 PM ET on July 8th from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
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