The Indiana Fever jumped out to a 23-point lead within the first half towards the Dallas Wings on Friday, however they have been clinging to a two-point benefit because the clock ticked beneath 4 minutes within the fourth quarter. After blowing double-digit leads in every of their final three defeats, the Fever couldn’t afford to let this sport slip away.
Kelsey Mitchell ensured that they didn’t. The veteran guard took management of the offense close to midcourt, used a display screen from Aliyah Boston and darted by means of the lane for a troublesome and-one. Although she missed the free throw, Natasha Howard recovered the rebound to reset the offense. A number of seconds later, Mitchell once more acquired into the paint and arrange Howard for a bucket to push the benefit again to 6. The Wings by no means acquired any nearer.
Mitchell completed with 32 factors and 7 assists, setting new season-highs in each classes, and shot 11 of 17 from the sphere, together with 4 of 6 from 3-point vary. The Fever, taking part in with out Caitlin Clark for the second consecutive sport attributable to a groin pressure, held on for a 94-86 win to get again to .500 on the season at 8-8.
Within the course of, Mitchell turned the fourth-fastest participant in WNBA historical past to achieve 4,000 profession factors, 500 rebounds, 500 assists and 500 3-pointers. She joined that membership — which solely contains 14 gamers — in 249 profession video games. The one gamers to take action sooner are Katie Smith (241 video games), Arike Ogunbowale (198 video games) and Diana Taurasi (198 video games).
“I identical to to remain within the rhythm and keep within the move of the sport, however I undoubtedly wish to play assured down the stretch of video games,” Mitchell stated. “Our group makes it straightforward for me to get downhill and create as a lot as I can.”
Mitchell has actually been in a rhythm as of late. This was the fourth consecutive sport with no less than 20 factors for the veteran, which matches the third-longest such streak of her profession. Over her final 5 video games, Mitchell is averaging 22.8 factors and three.8 assists on 56.3/51.5/77.3 taking pictures splits. Throughout that span she is third within the league in scoring and first in 3-pointers made (17).
All through her profession, Mitchell has been a sluggish starter. In 48 profession video games in Could, she’s taking pictures 39.4% from the sphere, which is by far her least environment friendly month. Her play picks up because the summer season goes alongside, and that pattern has continued this season. If we zoom out even additional than the current five-game pattern dimension, you may see a transparent distinction for the reason that calendar flipped to June.
Mitchell’s splits by month this season
|
Could |
6 |
16.3 |
38.7 |
29.0 |
73.9 |
|
June |
10 |
20.5 |
49.0 |
38.2 |
72.1 |
When the Fever took off after the Olympic break final season, they did so as a result of Clark and Mitchell have been arguably the most effective backcourt within the league. That hasn’t been the case up to now in 2025 — no less than not frequently. Clark has handled accidents and a significant taking pictures droop, whereas Mitchell struggled to start out the season.
Mitchell’s current resurgence is a superb signal for a Fever group that has handled its justifiable share of adversity this season. Clark has missed seven of their 16 video games, whereas Sophie Cunningham and coach Stephanie White have additionally missed a number of contests. Moreover, key offseason acquisition DeWanna Bonner turned out to be a bust and lately compelled her method out of city.
Regardless of all of it, the Fever sit in sixth place and are proper within the combine for a top-four seed. They nonetheless have an opportunity to make some noise this season, particularly if Mitchell can keep this rhythm as soon as Clark returns.