The Indiana Fever's locker room is buzzing, but not just about their playoff push. A recent MVP discussion has sparked a heated debate, with fans accusing Aliyah Boston of intentionally overlooking superstar Caitlin Clark.
On her "Post Moves" podcast, Boston sat down with WNBA legend Candace Parker to break down the league's top talent. Parker listed A'ja Wilson and Olivia Miles as her early MVP frontrunners, but Boston quickly pivoted, throwing her full support behind Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell.
Parker, a three-time champion, revealed her final two: Mitchell and Paige Bueckers. "Those are my 4. I think you could swap, but I think Olivia Miles gets the edge just because they're the No. 1 team in the league," Parker said. "They're ahead, head and shoulders, I would say, above. But yeah, I think A'ja Wilson, again, unless voters get tired, you know, this mid-season, yeah, it's hard not to have her in the conversation."
Boston's omission of Clark didn't go unnoticed. Days later, she doubled down, showering Mitchell with praise during a practice warm-up, highlighting her relentless work ethic and leadership.
"Kelsey comes in here and she works every day," Boston said. "She gets up extra shots. She just comes in and does what she needs to do. And I think, honestly, she's really just the MVP. I think that's just what she's been doing. Every single night you see her come out and she drops, I don't even know how many points at this rate. She defends her butt off and we just come out here and we play. She does exactly what she needs to do, so I'm really proud of her."
Fans were quick to cry foul, with some suggesting Boston was deliberately snubbing Clark for attention. "She gets more engagement by snubbing Caitlin," one fan declared, while another asked, "Is there a conspiracy against Caitlin Clark?"
The debate raises a bigger question: Who is the true leader for the Fever? Clark has been spectacular, averaging 21.7 points and 8.2 assists per game, but Mitchell leads the team in scoring at 24.3 points per contest. Even ESPN's Stephen A. Smith weighed in, stating, "I'm a fan of Caitlin Clark, but the best player on the Indiana Fever is Kelsey Mitchell. That's not disrespect to Caitlin Clark – she can play. The point is Kelsey Mitchell is averaging 24 points per game and three less turnovers per game than Caitlin Clark."
This isn't the first time Clark has been at the center of controversy. The Fever have seen their fair share of officiating controversies and media scrutiny this season. The ratings surge driven by Clark has brought unprecedented attention to the league, but it also comes with heightened scrutiny of every word spoken by her teammates.
At the end of the day, the Fever are thrilled to have Boston, Clark, and Mitchell on their roster. If this trio can channel their competitive fire into a cohesive unit, they could very well make a deep playoff run. For now, the MVP debate rages on, with fans and analysts alike picking sides.
