​‘What Are You Talking About? Welcome to Big-Time Sports!’ – Ex-Indiana Coach Tells Kelsey Mitchell to ‘Grow Up’ Amid Caitlin Clark ControversyIndiana Fever star Kelsey Mitchell opened up about the criticism she receives from fans just by playing next to Caitlin Clark. Mitchell admitted this has created difficulties for her, which could influence what she plans to do this offseason.Sportscaster Dan Dakich took exception to Mitchell’s comments and did not mince words in calling her out.Dan Dakich Goes on Tirade Against Kelsey MitchellIndiana has been at the center of the spotlight over the past few years, largely due to Clark’s arrival in 2024.However, she hasn’t just brought increased popularity with her. The 24-year-old has invited scrutiny toward her teammates, which has weighed heavily on Mitchell.Following the Fever’s first-round exit at the hands of the Las Vegas Aces, Mitchell opened up about how fans have treated her.The 2018 No. 2 pick claimed that people do not understand how difficult it is to be a professional athlete. She went on to frame the scrutiny and criticism she is subjected to as stemming from being Clark’s teammate.“Playing with CC and having the eyes that she got, we get a lot of flak just for being on her team,” Mitchell said. “… I just think that people got to give us grace. I think this organization is unbelievable, man, but I think that when it comes to really trying to be yourself, it hasn’t always been easy.”Dakich, a former interim coach of the Indiana Hoosiers, responded to Mitchell’s comments on “Don’t @ Me” on Monday.“Let’s understand something, Kelsey. Sports fans have disliked their own teams ten minutes into the sports being invented,” Dakich said.He then went on to cite various instances of fans going after the players of the teams they support over on-court mistakes.“Ask an NBA player who misses shot after shot in Game 6, Game 7. I mean, what are you talking about?” Dakich continued. “You want everybody to wake up and go, ‘Oh my god, it’s a fever fan.’ Welcome to big-time sports.“I mean, you all want big-time sports, as Sophie Cunningham said. And now you [expletive], whine, and moan, and you act coy and cute and all that little [expletive] that you’re doing right there because you’re getting scrutiny? … Welcome to big-time sports, little girl. Now grow up, be a woman, be an adult.”Mitchell has played nine years in the WNBA, all with the Fever. Prior to Clark’s arrival, she was the offensive engine that ran the team.In the six years before Clark was drafted, she averaged 16.4 points and 3.0 assists per game and was named an All-Star in 2023. However, the team constantly struggled, winning fewer than 10 games in four of those six seasons.Clark’s arrival in 2024 rejuvenated the team. She helped them reach 20 wins for the first time since 2015 in her maiden season. Additionally, that year marked the end of the franchise’s seven-year postseason dro