An Indiana Fever squad significantly hampered by injuries made an unexpected run deep into the 2025 WNBA playoffs, reaching the semifinals. The team was forced to compete without several key players, including Caitlin Clark, Sydney Colson, Aari McDonald, Chloe Bibby, and Cunningham herself, all of whom were sidelined with season-ending injuries. Despite this adversity, the Fever battled their way to a competitive series against the Las Vegas Aces, ultimately falling in a decisive Game 5 to the eventual league champions. A primary force behind this remarkable campaign was the elevated play of Kelsey Mitchell.
A Season Defined by Leadership and Grief
Stepping up in the absence of Clark, Mitchell became the undisputed offensive leader for Indiana, a role she excelled in throughout the year. Her performance earned her recognition as an All-Star and a top-five finalist for the league’s MVP award. During the regular season, she averaged 20.2 points per game on an efficient 45.6% shooting from the field. Mitchell elevated her contributions in the playoffs, where she posted an average of 22.3 points, 3.0 assists, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.0 steal per contest on 42.8% shooting. Across eight postseason games, her scoring was a model of consistency, dipping below the 15-point mark on only one occasion.
Recently, Mitchell offered insight into the personal challenges that framed her professional success. The 29-year-old guard, who lost her father, Mark Mitchell, in September of the previous year, shared a reflective post on social media about the role grief played in her season.
“Had to get to it different than everybody else,” Mitchell wrote. “Grief had me excited for a small piece of it… indifferent for majority of it. Charged it ALL to the game. Ain’t no life jacket come for me, word to Him. Pops blueprint kept me in survival mode… that survival made me.”
Teammates Rally with Support and Acclaim
Mitchell’s poignant message drew a wave of heartfelt support from her Indiana Fever teammates. Caitlin Clark expressed her admiration, commenting that she’s “lucky” to be Mitchell’s teammate and that she is “proud” of her. Sophie Cunningham added her own powerful, concise tribute on the post, writing, “everyone’s GOAT.”
Cunningham later expanded on this sentiment in great detail. Speaking on a recent episode of her podcast, “Show Me Something,” she delivered what she called the “ultimate compliment” for the veteran scorer, praising both her character and her on-court dominance.
“Kelsey is the most selfless, humble human you will ever ever meet,” Cunningham stated. “And I think if we would have made it, if we would [have] won and she would have been healthy, she should have been MVP. I’m not taking away from A’ja [Wilson], but nobody, nobody in our entire league could stop Kelsey Mitchell this year. And I want to be her biggest fan because she is just, I’m not kidding, the best human that you could possibly ever be around.”
An Uncertain Future
Cunningham’s emphatic endorsement highlights the immense respect Mitchell commands within the Fever locker room. Her performance under pressure, coupled with her leadership through a season marked by both personal loss and team-wide adversity, solidified her status as the franchise’s cornerstone.
As the WNBA offseason begins, Mitchell’s future with the team is a central storyline. She is currently a free agent, but the Indiana Fever organization has publicly stated that bringing her back is a top priority. After a season in which she proved her value beyond any doubt, Mitchell enters the market as one of its most compelling players.