This past season, Kelsey Mitchell rose to the occasion for the Indiana Fever and delivered the best season of her career, becoming the driving force for an injury-riddled Indiana Fever. She pushed so hard that she left Game 5 of the semifinals against the Aces after her body went numb from sheer exhaustion. Yet Mitchell isn’t just testing her limits physically, but she’s challenging her mind as well, as new details emerge.

What degree did Kelsey Mitchell get?

Since childhood, the value of education was ingrained in Mitchell, not only by her parents but also by her grandfather, who passed away in 2020. Honoring the path he set, Mitchell earned her bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University in 2018. But that wasn’t enough as she continued her studies at the University of Cincinnati.

Mitchell continued her higher education, taking a heavy load of online classes while playing overseas in Turkey. Despite the eight-hour time difference and all other challenges that came with it, she kept going. She finished practice and then returned to juggling coursework. That hard work finally paid off in 2020 when she earned her master’s degree in sports administration.

That became the foundation for her next big academic goal.

“I applied to the University of Miami,” Mitchell said with a smile in 2022, as per the Indiana Fever’s official website. “Hopefully all goes well, but I did it because the ball will stop bouncing one day. And when it stops, I’ll be prepared not only for myself, but for the next generation… It’s one thing to go to school, but to apply and utilize what you learn personally and with others is important.”

That wasn’t the only program she applied to. She also submitted her application for a PhD through North Central University. “Getting your PhD is very expensive, but my mom is trying to persuade me. I really want to take a break, but I did submit my application, so we will see.” For three years, she didn’t share any updates. But, finally, she has confirmed it.

Did Kelsey Mitchell announce she’s getting a PhD?

On November 18, the Fever star shared that she had spoken at the Hoosier Sports Girls Leadership Symposium hosted by Indiana University. She attended the event to help middle-school girls develop life skills through sports. “Still smiling after the Hoosier Sport Girls Leadership Symposium. Being in a room full of young girls reminded me why representation, mentorship, and community matter,” she wrote on Instagram. In the same post, she unveiled her personal academic achievement.

Mitchell shared that she is currently pursuing her PhD at Liberty University. “Sharing my journey + pouring into young leaders… Here to inspire the next generation through sport 💙✨ The future is bright. So proud of this room.” She explained that her discipline as an athlete helped her stay committed academically. “When y’all do homework, I’m probably doing homework, too,” she told the audience with a smile. Well, it’s a huge milestone.

Will Kelsey Mitchell become one of the few WNBA players with a doctorate?

1. Sports and academics are often treated as separate entities, but a few WNBA athletes are proving they can go hand in hand. To start with, Imani McGee-Stafford stepped away from basketball in 2020 to pursue a degree at Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles. “We wish Imani well as she pursues a law degree,” Wings president and CEO Greg Bibb said in a statement. With her commitment to studies, Mitchell is now next in line to prove it is doable.

Kelsey previously completed her master’s degree with the help of tuition assistance offered through the WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement. But while a PhD is expensive, it doesn’t seem to be an issue this time.  Instead, the focus is on a supportive WNBA team. For her master’s degree, she credits the Indiana Fever.

“When I told [Tamika] that I got my master’s, she couldn’t believe it and was like This is going to be great,” Mitchell said with a wide smile in 2020. “Once I told her what I got it in, she was like, there will be a lot of things you can do with it, based on your love for the game. So, I look forward to being able to pick her brain and Dr. Barber’s. So, it feels good to have the Fever organization and family support me.”

But now, as she pushes through a doctorate, her future seems unclear. That’s because the Indiana Fever’s got only three players on contract for the upcoming season. This means Mitchell will be an unrestricted free agent this winter, and her getting back with Indy depends on the new CBA, which is not yet in sight. So, will she complete her PhD while playing for the Fever – or for another team?