A couple of cryptic tweets were all it took to send a wave of concern through the Indiana Fever fanbase, as star guard Kelsey Mitchell’s offseason social media activity sparked rampant speculation.

“When people show you who they are, believe them the first time,” Mitchell tweeted. This left the Fans baffled, and the entire Indiana Fever fanbase was left in a state of panic. Before fans had figured out the first one, Mitchell wrote another cryptic tweet. 

“I don’t need nobody holding my hand until and unless they really wanna hold it. No favors. No handouts. Iykyk.🧘🏾‍♀️” She wrote. However, according to Robin Lundberg from Sports Illustrated, the messages probably aren’t directed towards her relationship with the Indiana Fever.

“Now, why would this have anything to do with the Indiana fever in December, almost January? I don’t think it does. Probably doesn’t,” Lundberg said on the YouTube Channel. “Can’t say for sure. Could certainly be about just something personal or whatever was on her mind at the time, or general, you know, quotes. So, I’m not reading too much into the tweet.”

Kelsey Mitchell is the Indiana Fever’s first priority this offseason. She averaged 20.2 points per game on 45.6% shooting and 3.4 assists. Mitchell led the injury-ridden Indiana Fever to Game 5 of the semifinals against eventual champions Las Vegas Aces. Mitchell literally played until her body couldn’t anymore as she exited the game 5 due to severe cramping and was later hospitalized with rhabdomyolysis.

Despite being with the Indiana Fever through their worst years, she only had positive things to say about the team, especially Caitlin Clark. “The biggest part that I respected about Caitlin is that she never was bigger than the program,” Mitchell said. “I don’t know if that makes sense, but it wasn’t like she was trying to take over.” 

Mitchell also knows the big three with her, Boston, and a fit Caitlin Clark would help each other improve. “I think the way that her style of play, it kind of ended up complementing me and complementing AB (Aliyah Boston),” she said.  As Lundberg referenced, we can’t be sure that this is not regarding her offseason decision. In the case she does leave, the Indiana Fever can cope with it. 

“Let’s say you live in a universe where Kelsey Mitchell decides, for whatever reason, she wants her own team or wants to play somewhere else or just wants a change of scenery. For whatever reason, the Fever aren’t then cash-strapped in far as far as replacing her or anything like that,” Lundberg said, “In fact, they would have a ton of extra money to work with because they’d have the money allocated for Kelsey Mitchell on top of the rest of the money that they would have within the cap.”

Kelsey Mitchell will likely require the bulk of their finances. In 2025, she earned the most on the roster at $249,244. With Fever looking to core her, she will get a guaranteed supermax assuming the rule remains the same in the coming CBA. With nearly 80% of the league entering free agency, the Indiana Fever have plenty of options to replace Mitchell. Even if the concern ultimately proves unfounded, Fever fans can’t help but wonder what Plan B would look like should Mitchell’s future take an unexpected turn.

Jackie Young Can Be Kelsey Mitchell’s Replacement

The Indiana Fever have a clean slate this offseason, like every other team. Losing Kelsey Mitchell might put a bump in their plans. But it might open up a way to Jackie Young’s signing. “That’s where Jackie Young, even though I expect her back in Vegas, speculation came from because she would be a great fit next to Caitlin Clark,” Lundberg said.

It’s not only Lundberg, as Ben Pickman of The Athletic said something similar. “In terms of guards, like if I’m them, I’m making whatever the equivalent of the biggest plea I can for Jackie Young. I don’t think I would expect her to leave, right?” he said. “But she is an Indiana native. She played at Notre Dame. If you can ever try and lure someone out of the Las Vegas Aces ecosystem, that is a player that I’m certainly going after, making the biggest swing I can.”

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Jackie Young is the ideal partner for Caitlin Clark. She can be a secondary creator and assist Clark. Currently, the point guard is largely on her own to create her shot. She scored 72.2% of her points unassisted last year and 66.9% in her rookie season. She still contributed 16.1 points and 5.1 assists per game, having the fourth-highest usage rate on the Aces. (23.1%). These are still hypothetical, but Young could be an ideal fit beside Clark. That will remain true regardless of Kelsey Mitchell’s situation. Still, any talk of Young leaving Las Vegas remains speculative at best. The Aces have little incentive to disrupt a championship-caliber core.