ESPN Facing Intense Backlash For Major WNBA All-Star Mistake

The WNBA All-Star game is set to tip-off on July 20 at 8:30 p.m. ET. Before the airing of the game on ESPN, the network received major criticism for its latest pregame graphic, mistakingly adding Indiana Fever forward NaLyssa Smith – instead of Kelsey Mitchell – in the picture of the Team WNBA roster.

WNBA fans are calling out ESPN for their pregame mistake despite the network deleting the tweet. They included every player on the Team WNBA and Team USA rosters except Mitchell.

Mitchell will be playing alongside Fever stars Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston.

"Mistook Nalyssa Smith for Kelsey Mitchell this is so embarrassing for ESPN," said one fan.

While Smith has had a solid season with the Fever, she was not named to the WNBA All-Star game. She's averaged 11.6 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.

The Fever joined the Phoenix Mercury and Las Vegas Aces as the only teams with three or more players rostered at WNBA All-Star weekend.

The future is bright in Indiana, with young stars like Clark and Boston leading the way alongside established players like Mitchell and Smith.

Mitchell is currently averaging 16.9 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. Indiana stands as the No. 7 team in the WNBA rankings with an 11-15 record.

The top eight teams in the WNBA standings make the playoffs, so Mitchell and company could be in prime position for a postseason appearance.

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