The Indiana Fever (27-15) have built their season around young players: guard Caitlin Clark’s playmaking and shooting, forward Aliyah Boston’s work in the paint and improving 3-point shot and rookie Raven Johnson’s defense. Guard Kelsey Mitchell, the veteran of the group, is having one of the best seasons of her career.
Mitchell, a first-round pick in the 2018 WNBA draft, has averaged 18.4 points and 2.9 assists per game over her career. She has also received the honor of All-WNBA First Team in 2025, All-Rookie Team in 2018, and was a first-team AP All-American at Ohio State in 2016.
In an ESPN ranking of the WNBA's top 50 players, Kareem Copeland wrote that opponents have a hard time keeping Mitchell from scoring and that she has the highest 3-point percentage of anyone on the list. She is shooting 45.5% from beyond the arc.
Through the Fever’s most recent regular-season game, against the Washington Mystics (26-16), Mitchell is averaging 25.1 points, 1.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game.
However, this goes further than just being a strong offensive player. Mitchell continues to propel her case as a potential MVP candidate for this season amongst the other stars in the league who make their teams better as well. She has continued to put herself in the conversation by showing her consistency with every tough shot she makes, and the grit and character that she brings to the game of women’s basketball.
“People always ask me who’s like one of the hardest guards to guard, and I promise you, it’s second nature,” Toronto Tempo guard Brittney Sykes told Athlon Sports. “I’m like, Kelsey Mitchell, and it’s a mutual respect for each other. Seeing her just throughout college, and then just getting to the pros and just how she’s developed and sustained her credibility [as] a pure scorer.”
Indiana has struggled when Mitchell is off the floor. In Game 5 of last season's WNBA semifinals against the Las Vegas Aces, the Fever could not get back into the game after Mitchell left with an injury in the second half. This season, Indiana played a close fourth quarter against Toronto on Aug. 19 while Mitchell sat out with heat exhaustion.
“I’ve asked a version of a question like that,” Sue Bird, a former WNBA player, said on her podcast, “Bird’s Eye View.” “Maybe it’s like, ‘Who’s the hardest to guard?’ Every single player I’ve asked at this pod. We’ve asked coaches that question, ‘Who’s the hardest to game plan?’ Across the board, Kelsey Mitchell. Across the board.”
Mitchell has also set two WNBA records this season. She holds the record for most consecutive 20-point games, with 25, and she broke Las Vegas Aces forward A'ja Wilson’s season scoring record with 1,034 points.
“She's playing at another level, and it's been really incredible to witness," Fever coach Stephanie White said in a postgame interview. "I hope that we don't take it for granted that what we're witnessing is some unprecedented stuff.”
Jocelyn Quintana is a junior majoring in communication studies and psychology and a writer for The Campus Citizen. In her free time, she enjoys reading, playing piano and following her favorite basketball, baseball and soccer teams.
Colts lose to Chiefs 33-30 in OT nail-biter
By Rudraksh Kikani | Sept. 21With 5:04 left in overtime, Indianapolis Colts (0-2) wide receiver Laquon Treadwell nearly held onto a 48-yard pass before fumbling it into a game-losing turnover — or so it seemed. The officials reviewed the play and overturned the call, ruling Treadwell was brought down by contact before fumbling.
Indiana Fever take tough 93-77 loss to Washington Mystics
By Danny Rivera | Sept. 21The Indiana Fever hosted the Washington Mystics on Sunday afternoon at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis in the 42nd regular-season game for both teams. This was a big game with playoff consequences on both sides. The Fever are chasing home-court advantage in the first round, while the Mystics are chasing a playoff spot. After a lopsided game that Washington won 93-77, the Fever have a lot of work to do on both sides of the ball.
IU Indy takes a tough 5-1 loss against Northern Kentucky
By Danny Rivera | Sept. 20IU Indianapolis men's soccer (3-4-0, 0-3-0) lost 5-1 to Northern Kentucky (1-5-1, 1-2-0) on Sept. 19, giving up five goals in the first half of its third conference game. Rain fell before kickoff.
