The WNBA playoffs are almost here, and the final player rankings are starting to put a sharper value on the season each star has actually played. That often brings familiar names into unfamiliar spots.
Bleacher Report’s latest ranking does exactly that with the Indiana Fever. Caitlin Clark moved into the top five, but one of her own teammates landed ahead of her.
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Bleacher Report placed Clark at No. 5 in its updated top 25. Kelsey Mitchell came in at No. 4, giving Indiana two players inside the top five heading into the playoffs.
The ranking puts Clark behind A’ja Wilson, Olivia Miles, Stewart and Mitchell. Wilson remained No. 1, while Miles held second and Breanna Stewart stayed third.
Clark’s placement also marks a major jump from Bleacher Report’s previous update. She was No. 11 in the June rankings and has now moved six spots into the top five. Mitchell made an even larger move, climbing from No. 15 to No. 4.
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That shift reflects the kind of value Bleacher Report says it is measuring. The ranking considers this season’s work, availability and two-way impact instead of reputation alone.
Clark’s numbers give the ranking plenty of support. Bleacher Report lists her at 22.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 8.4 assists per game while shooting 45.6% from the field.
The biggest change has come with her pull-up shooting. Since the start of July, Clark has made 49.1% of her pull-up twos and 43.6% of her pull-up threes, according to the ranking. That improvement has added another layer to an offense already built around her pick-and-roll and transition creation.
Mitchell’s case is different. She ranks fourth while averaging 25.0 points on 51.3% shooting, and Bleacher Report points to her scoring efficiency across several play types.
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The ranking also makes the Indiana picture more unusual. The Fever have two players above several established stars, including Paige Bueckers, who ranks sixth.
Clark is therefore entering the playoffs with both recognition and a clear benchmark beside her. Mitchell sits one spot higher, while Clark’s improved shooting has pushed her sharply up the latest board.
