Kelsey Mitchell has become synonymous with the Indiana Fever by now. Drafted by the Fever in 2018 as the second pick, the 30-year-old guard has stuck with the franchise as it navigated the early tough years within the WNBA. Over a career spanning 8 seasons, Mitchell has 277 appearances for the Indiana Fever, with an average of 17.4 points scored every game.

Even though the Indiana Fever narrowly missed out on a possible WNBA Finals appearance last season while dealing with a host of injury issues, it did not shake Kelsey Mitchell’s faith in her team. She discussed her loyalty to the Fever and how her journey in Indiana unfolded during an appearance on the Aari & Rachel Unfiltered Podcast.

“When it was bad, I kind of just let it play out really because, like I said, when you don’t really have nobody calling you or knocking on your door anyway, I mean, what else you going to do? So, it was a bittersweet feeling because I think being loyal has a cost, and we all know that. You know, being loyal isn’t always ideal, but I think, like when I think back on it, it was worth it.”

Being the driving force for the Indiana Fever during the 2025 WNBA season, the 5-foot-8 guard played all 44 games in the regular season, averaging a career-high 20.2 points on 45.6% shooting, 1.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in 31.4 minutes per contest. Mitchell also knocked down 2.5 triples per game on a 39.4% clip.

And when the injury crisis struck, Mitchell had to carry a significant load. Star guard Caitlin Clark was limited to just 13 games before being ruled out for the latter part of the season with a groin injury. Sophie Cunningham and three other players also suffered season-ending injuries before the WNBA playoffs.

But Mitchell never backed down and led the Fever to the playoffs for the second straight season. They defeated the Atlanta Dream in the first round. However, they were eliminated in the semis after a tough five-game series against the eventual champions, the Las Vegas Aces.

While her individual performance is one thing, Kelsey Mitchell’s chemistry with her teammates stands out as well. She has forged a formidable backcourt for the Indiana Fever alongside Lexie Hull, Caitlin Clark, and Sophie Cunningham. But now that her one-year, $249,244 supermax contract with the Indiana Fever has expired, free agency looms for her.

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Additionally, the league is due a new CBA resolution, which would see a sharp increase in salary and revenue for the players, with the WNBA and the WNBPA locked in negotiations over the new terms.

The Indiana Fever have a lot to ponder before they are required to submit their protected players list ahead of the Expansion Draft. While they will surely keep Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell is also considered a key figure, and head coach Stephanie White has already hinted at keeping Mitchell at the core of building their 2026 roster.

Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell hint at Aari McDonald’s wish

In an injury-stricken season that gave Stephanie White a lot of headaches, emergency signing Aari McDonald was a blessing in disguise. Signed to the Fever on an emergency contract to fill the guard role in the absence of Caitlin Clark, Aari McDonald took to the Fever system like she had been playing there for ages.

The 27-year-old performed admirably enough to gain a rest-of-the-season deal with the Indiana Fever, boasting an average of just under 10 points per game. However, her season came to a premature end because of a broken bone in her right foot in August 2025.

Aari McDonald will now be a free agent heading into the 2026 WNBA season. Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell joined Aari on the Aari & Rachel Unfiltered Podcast and talked about the 2025 season.

The two highlighted how Aari’s arrival breathed fresh energy into the Indiana system and fit seamlessly into the playing style with other teammates. The 27-year-old was unfortunate to have her season end quickly, and the Indiana Fever duo remarked on how they felt she should continue with the Fever.

The Fever will likely have 2 more slots apart from Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark, and Kelsey Mitchell. The likes of Lexie Hull and Sophie Cunningham will also be contenders. If Aari isn’t protected from the Expansion draft, there is an expectation that she would be picked by either Toronto or Portland to build the team for their season in the WNBA.