Kelsey Mitchell (basketball)
American basketball player (born 1995)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kelsey Michelle Mitchell (born November 12, 1995[1]) is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for the Hive of Unrivaled.
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Mitchell with the Indiana Fever in 2024 | |||||||||||||||
| No. 0 – Indiana Fever | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Point guard/Shooting guard | ||||||||||||||
| League | WNBA | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born | November 12, 1995 Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 155 lb (70 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school | Princeton (Sharonville, Ohio) | ||||||||||||||
| College | Ohio State (2014–2018) | ||||||||||||||
| WNBA draft | 2018: 1st round, 2nd overall pick | ||||||||||||||
| Drafted by | Indiana Fever | ||||||||||||||
| Playing career | 2018–present | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
| 2018–present | Indiana Fever | ||||||||||||||
| 2019 | Al Ahly | ||||||||||||||
| 2021–2022 | Elitzur Ramla | ||||||||||||||
| 2023 | Spar Citylift Girona | ||||||||||||||
| 2022–2024 | Athletes Unlimited League | ||||||||||||||
| 2024–2025 | Shanxi Flame | ||||||||||||||
| 2026 | Hive BC | ||||||||||||||
| Career highlights | |||||||||||||||
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| Stats at Basketball Reference | |||||||||||||||
Medals
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Mitchell played college basketball for the Ohio State University Buckeyes. As a college freshman in 2014-15, Mitchell finished the season with 873 total points, the second highest by a freshman in NCAA Division I history.[2] Mitchell finished the regular season of her final season, in 2018, with the third-most points in NCAA Division I history,[3] and, after the post season, finished her college career with the second-most points, trailing only Kelsey Plum of Washington.[4] In February 2018, Mitchell was named the Big Ten women's basketball player of the year. She was a second-team All-American in 2015, 2017, and 2018, while notching first-team All-American honors in 2016.[5] In 2018, following her senior year, Mitchell won the Dawn Staley Award for best guard in Division I college basketball. Mitchell remains Ohio State's all-time leading scorer.
Mitchell was the second overall pick in the 2018 WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever, and was selected to the 2018 WNBA All-Rookie Team. Mitchell participated in the WNBA Three-Point Contest in 2018 and 2023. For her leadership on and off the court, Mitchell was awarded the 2023 Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award. Mitchell became a three-time WNBA All-Star with appearances in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
In 2019, Mitchell played for Egyptian club Al Ahly in the 2019 FIBA Africa Women's Clubs Champions Cup.[6] Mitchell signed with the Shanxi Flame of the Women's Chinese Basketball Association for the 2024-2025 season.[7]
College career
Mitchell completed her college career with the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2018. In February 2018, she was named the Big Ten women's basketball player of the year by the conference's coaches. She was a second-team All-American in 2015, 2017, and 2018, while notching first-team All-American in 2016.[5]
As a college freshman in 2014–15, Mitchell finished the season with 873 total points, which were the second-most by a freshman in NCAA Division I history, behind Tina Hutchinson's 898 with San Diego State in 1983–84.[2] During her senior season, Mitchell averaged 24.4 points per game on 46.1 percent shooting and 40.3 percent shooting from three. She also managed 4.1 assists per game and 3.2 rebounds per game. She finished the regular season of her final season with the third-most points in NCAA Division I history,[3] and ultimately finished her career with 3,402 points, trailing only Kelsey Plum of Washington.[4] In 2018, after her senior year, she won the Dawn Staley Award.
Professional career
WNBA
Indiana Fever (2018–present)
Mitchell was the second overall pick in the 2018 WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever, and was selected to the 2018 WNBA All-Rookie Team alongside A'ja Wilson, Ariel Atkins, and Diamond DeShields. Mitchell participated in the WNBA Three-Point Contest in 2018 and 2023. For her leadership on and off the court, Mitchell was awarded the 2023 Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award, becoming the 4th Fever player to win the recognition after Tamika Catchings (2008 & 2016) and Natalie Achonwa (2020). Mitchell participated in the 2024 Skills Challenge at 2024 WNBA All-Star Weekend after Fever teammate, Erica Wheeler, was unable to attend due to the global computer outages delaying her travel.[8] She became a three-time WNBA All-Star with appearances in 2023, 2024 and 2025 alongside Fever teammates Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark.
After entering free agency in 2025, the Fever designated Mitchell as a core player, giving the team exclusive rights and guaranteeing her a supermax contract for the 2025 season.[9][10] Mitchell had been the team's top signing priority according to Fever GM Amber Cox.[11] Mitchell signed a core contract on January 29.[12]
During the 2025 WNBA season, Mitchell experienced a serious medical incident in Game 5 of the semifinals on September 30, 2025. Initially believed to be severe lower-body cramping, it was later identified as rhabdomyolysis—a dangerous condition in which muscle tissue breaks down and releases harmful proteins into the bloodstream. She was transported to a local Las Vegas hospital to receive IV fluids and was released later that night.[13]
Overseas
In 2019, Mitchell played for Egyptian club Al Ahly in the 2019 FIBA Africa Women's Clubs Champions Cup.[6]
Mitchell played in Israeli League for Elitzur Ramla in the 2021–22 off-season.
In 2023, Mitchel played 8 games with Uni Girona in Girona, Spain in the Spanish First League and 5 games in EuroCup.[14]
Mitchell signed with the Shanxi Flame of the Women's Chinese Basketball Association for the 2024–2025 season.[7]
Unrivaled
On November 5, 2025, it was announced that Mitchell had been drafted by Hive BC for the 2026 Unrivaled season.[15]
Personal life
Mitchell is from Cincinnati, Ohio, and graduated from Princeton High School in Sharonville, Ohio. She has a twin sister, Chelsea.[16]
Career statistics
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game | FG% | Field goal percentage |
| 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage | RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game |
| SPG | Steals per game | BPG | Blocks per game | TO | Turnovers per game | PPG | Points per game |
| Bold | Career high | * | Led Division I | ° | Led the league | ‡ | WNBA record |
WNBA
Regular season
Stats current through end of 2025 season
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Indiana | 34 | 17 | 24.4 | .346 | .335 | .804 | 1.8 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 1.9 | 12.7 |
| 2019 | Indiana | 34° | 20 | 25.1 | .387 | .374 | .836 | 1.6 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 1.7 | 13.6 |
| 2020 | Indiana | 22° | 22° | 32.1 | .448 | .389 | .849 | 2.2 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 2.5 | 17.9 |
| 2021 | Indiana | 32° | 32° | 33.1 | .431 | .335 | .882 | 2.6 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 2.0 | 17.8 |
| 2022 | Indiana | 31 | 31 | 32.6 | .438 | .409 | .861 | 1.9 | 4.2 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 2.4 | 18.4 |
| 2023 | Indiana | 40° | 40° | 33.7 | .441 | .398 | .824 | 1.6 | 3.1 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 2.3 | 18.2 |
| 2024 | Indiana | 40° | 38 | 32.0 | .468 | .402 | .832 | 2.5 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 1.6 | 19.2 |
| 2025 | Indiana | 44 | 44 | 31.4 | .456 | .394 | .784 | 1.8 | 3.4 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 1.8 | 20.2 |
| Career | 8 years, 1 team | 277 | 244 | 30.6 | .431 | .381 | .828 | 2.0 | 2.9 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 2.0 | 17.4 |
| All-Star | 3 | 1 | 15.6 | .536 | .267 | 1.000 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 11.7 |
Playoffs
College
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | Ohio State | 35 | 35 | 37.1 | .415 | .378 | .835 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 4.1 | 24.9* |
| 2015–16 | Ohio State | 34 | 34 | 36.6 | .452 | .397 | .852 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 3.1 | 26.1 |
| 2016–17 | Ohio State | 35 | 35 | 34.2 | .437 | .369 | .818 | 2.8 | 3.9 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 2.4 | 22.6 |
| 2017–18 | Ohio State | 35 | 35 | 35.9 | .448 | .402 | .832 | 3.2 | 4.2 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 2.2 | 24.3 |
| Career | 139 | 139 | 35.9 | .438 | .386 | .835 | 3.3 | 3.9 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 3.0 | 24.5 | |
