Is the Indiana Fever Betting on Kelsey Mitchell – or Just Buying Time?

After the 2024 success in brand image, the Indiana Fever didn’t tiptoe into the offseason. They kicked the doors wide open. A new head coach in Stephanie White. Proven veterans like DeWanna Bonner, Natasha Howard, Sydney Colson, and Sophie Cunningham, all in the fold. The mission was to build a contender around Caitlin Clark. But…

… While the headlines celebrated shiny new arrivals, an uneasy silence hung over the team’s longest-tenured star, Kelsey Mitchell.

On January 16, the Fever extended a core qualifying offer to Mitchell. That’s the WNBA version of going all-in. A fully guaranteed “supermax” deal, the highest honor. But the heaviest chain. You can’t sign elsewhere in free agency. You either accept the one-year deal, negotiate new terms, or hope for a sign-and-trade. Being tagged a “core player” means respect, but it comes with restrictions, too.

The Dallas Wings know what that feels like. They tried the same with Satou Sabally. She made her stance crystal clear: thanks, but I’m done. Fever fans feared that Mitchell might, too. But two weeks later, those fears were put to rest when Mitchell signed a one-year contract to return to Indiana for her eighth season.

Drafted second overall in 2018 by Kelly Krauskopf, Mitchell—whom Krauskopf calls the team’s “foundation”—was back after her best career season, and the Fever were ready to chase their second championship.

But the season hasn’t gone as planned.

The Fever sit eighth in the league with a 21-20 record as of 3rd September and are in danger of missing the playoffs. After Mitchell’s 4-for-14 shooting night against the Valkyries in a game loaded with playoff implications, doubts are starting to surface. Will Mitchell still be in Indiana once her contract expires, or are the Fever truly committed to building around her?

Kelsey Mitchell Is Having a Season to Remember

“Gonna need y’all to say her name when talking about MVP,” said Fever legend Tamika Catchings after Mitchell dropped 26 points, 8 assists, and 3 rebounds against the Chicago Sky (8/10), carrying the team in the absence of a true point guard following injuries to Sydney Colson and Aari McDonald. That’s exactly how Kelsey Mitchell has been all season.

The eight-year veteran is putting up career-high numbers, averaging 20.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game, shining as Indiana’s brightest spot in what has been a tough, grueling year. In the 18 games the Fever have played without Caitlin Clark, Mitchell has poured in 389 points, proving her value night after night.

Recently, she became the first player this season to hit 100 three-pointers and the first in WNBA history to achieve that mark three times. But if you thought that was the end of it, you were wrong. Here’s the year-by-year record of Kelsey Mitchell:

Kelsey Mitchell’s trajectory is a textbook case of sustained excellence. From a 12.7-point rookie campaign in 2018 to a career-high 20.5 points per game in 2025, her rise has been steady and undeniable. Each season, she has added layers to her game, elevating not only her averages* but also her impact on Indiana’s identity. Crossing the 800-point threshold in 2025, besides being a milestone, it’s definitive proof of her evolution into the Fever’s cornerstone scorer.

Dollar for dollar, she’s been worth every penny of the $249,244 contract the Fever gave her this season, making her the highest-paid player in the league ahead of stars like Jewell Loyd and Arike Ogunbowale, according to Spotrac. And she’s proving every night why Indiana put that kind of trust—and money—in her.

But if anyone still had doubts about her abilities, just take a look at how she’s been defended recently. Coach Natalie Nakase mentioned in the post-game press conference how Coach Kasib Powell designed plays specifically “how we’re going to attack both of them on the defensive end, both Mitchell and Boston, how we’re going to try to try to limit their shots or at least make it frustrating.” This is the biggest compliment you can get as a player.

While Mitchell has struggled in her last few games, this doesn’t undermine the season she has had as a whole. Which brings us to the key question: will the Fever hold on to her next season, or are they truly committed to building the team around both her and Caitlin Clark?

Is Kelsey Mitchell locked in with the Fever for next season?

To put it simply, the Fever fully intends to keep Kelsey Mitchell next year. While she signed only a one-year deal, that’s the nature of a core designation. It allows a player to take a one-year Supermax contract, especially during times when the future of the league over the next year is uncertain.

The current CBA, signed in January 2020 shortly after Cathy Engelbert became commissioner in 2019, was originally set to run through 2027. But last October, the WNBPA, led by President Nneka Ogwumike, exercised its right to opt out, motivated by the league’s rapid growth and increasing demands from players. So, this one-year contract gives Mitchell the chance to renegotiate on better terms and earn what she truly deserves.

No team would let a player of Mitchell’s caliber go, especially someone like the Fever, who are all out, trying to build a legacy like that of the Lynx. This isn’t the time to question the future of someone who has given her all for the franchise. The love and respect the players and staff have for her were clear when they all wore “Kelsey Mitchell MVP” shirts in the Fieldhouse, celebrating her remarkable season.

And there’s no denying that this year has been painful for the Fever, especially watching last season’s most efficient backcourt—with Clark and Mitchell averaging 19.2 points per game each—play together in only 13 games due to Clark’s injury. But once Clark returns fully fit, expect fireworks. So worry not, Fever fans: barring any dramatic events, Kelsey Mitchell is here to stay and continue dominating: on the road and at Indianapolis.