Kelsey Mitchell is aching to return to the playing side of things.
Mitchell has missed the most of training camp due to an ankle injury she sustained during preparation for the 3×3 National Training Camp in April. She didn’t play in Indiana’s preseason matches against Dallas and Atlanta, and she didn’t start team practice until Friday.
She began practice gradually, playing mainly offensive possessions at first. She added defensive work on Sunday.
“I feel amazing, but my priorities right now are making sure I’m acting professionally both on and off the floor, listening to my doctors, and following the right procedures to make sure I have everything I need before the season starts.”
Mitchell — who averaged 18.2 points per game last season — has led the Fever in scoring for each of the last five years while missing only five games since being drafted in 2018. A career 37.3% 3-point shooter, Mitchell adds an element of spacing to the team’s offense that can help it excel.
All those scoring lists Caitlin Clark now sits atop, she had to pass Kelsey Mitchell to get there. The former Ohio State star finished her college career second on women’s Division I basketball all-time scoring list.
Now, six years into her Fever career, she is second in franchise history with 3,156 points, behind only Tamika Catchings. She is an elite 3-point shooter, shooting 37% over her career and ranking second, behind Catchings, in made 3-pointers.
“She’s going to add to our spacing,” Sides said. “We’ve done a great job of everybody being able to hold their own defenders and not need to help as much, and Kelsey would just add to that, and that’s what’s so exciting about our team.”
