After a difficult start to the season, the Indiana Fever are firing on all cylinders following the Olympic break. Fueled by the record-breaking performances of Fever guard Caitlin Clark, the team's chemistry has grown exponentially and they are stacking wins.
As fans watch the Fever grow stronger each week, they want to keep the team's core players intact. Unfortunately, Kelsey Mitchell, who was named to the 2024 All-Star roster alongside Clark and Aliyah Boston, is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season ends.
Speaking to reporters last week, Mitchell revealed she didn't know what future held. "Those conversations are going to have to be had, and I’m gonna do what’s best for me,” she said. “It’s always going to be a business, so I’m excited to explore free agency. I’ve never been a free agent in my professional career, so I’m excited to see where it goes.”
While fans want Mitchell to get paid, they also desperately want her to remain in Indiana. After the Fever dropped a video of Mitchell taking photos of Clark and her teammates on August 22, fans believe the 28-year-old dropped a huge hint about her future.
Mitchell said while taking a snap, "Me and my compadres. These are my Fever girls forever ."
One fan replied , "fever girls forever u say… SIGN THE EXTENSION!" Another person commented , "please make sure she stays a fever girlie." Another fan noted , "'These are my Fever girls forever' yeah Kelsey ain't leaving."
Ever since Indiana drafted Mitchell as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft, she's been the team's top scorer. Clark has usurped that title this season, but only by a negligible margin. While the rookie is averaging 17.8 points per game, Mitchell is averaging 17.7 points.
The team has the cap space to re-sign Mitchell to a core qualifying one-year, supermax extension, which is $241,984 in 2025, per the WNBA's CBA, before negotiating further. However, with the WNBA expanding, the Golden State Valkyries join next season, there's a chance Mitchell gets scooped up without the veteran or the Fever having say.
Her Hoop Stats' Richard Cohen posted , "The Fever still have acres of cap space for next year, and if KMitchell hasn't signed an extension they'll almost certainly both protect her and core her. I don't think there's a lot of debate here (unless the league messes with the expansion rules to complicate things)."
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