Life is easier when you have someone to share both the highs and the lows with. It’s even better when that person is your mirror image—literally. Kelsey Mitchell and her twin sister, Chelsea, perfectly fit that description. The twins have it all sorted out: when one faces the grind, the other has their back. Their close bond was on full display recently, especially in light of Kelsye’s heartbreaking injury update.

Recently, the sisters sat together on TogetherX, and Chelsea took the opportunity to give her twin both words of encouragement and real flowers. She wrote Kelsey a digital letter and read it aloud:

“Dear Kels, it’s crazy we started this journey together and to see how much you’ve accomplished. As your twin sister, I’m here to tell you I’m proud of you. Through all your obstacles we’ve been through, all the gyms we’ve been in, I’m here to tell you that I’ve always been your number one fan. I will never judge you. I will never leave you. Every bad game has always been a good game to me. To see how much you’ve accomplished, and now you’re a three-time All-Star, and all the work and dedication that you put into your craft has paid off. You’ve always been an underdog in all the rooms because you’re so humble. You’re understanding. You always put people first. But I’m here to tell you that as an All-Star, it’s all about you. So, you have to enjoy and have fun. Your village is behind you. We will always love you. And like I always say, give yourself grace. Don’t be so hard on yourself. You got to smile. Keep pushing. Keep your head up.”

Chelsea Mitchell has always been an exceptional basketball player herself, much like her sister Kelsey, even though she never made it to the WNBA. She spent most of her career playing in Europe before eventually moving into coaching. Chelsea was always the outgoing one, while Kelsey was more introverted, and that dynamic carried straight through to their Buckeyes days.

Chelsea put it simply: she was Kelsey’s built-in backup, always ready to support and defend her. “I was more her support system. At the end of the day, I got you… I was her mouth, because nobody was going to talk down on her,” Chelsea said. With that kind of protection and encouragement, Kelsey thrived, becoming a three-time Big Ten Player of the Year, a four-time All-American, and the No. 2 scorer in NCAA history.

The Mitchell family’s love for sports didn’t stop with the sisters. They also have twin brothers, Kevin and Cameron, who were always into sports, and another brother, Mark, who became a basketball coach after his football career. Growing up, Kelsey and Chelsea constantly played against their brothers, which helped Kelsey develop the toughness that makes her such a force on the WNBA court, even at 5-foot-8, and with an injury that’s as scary as its name. 

Kelsey Mitchell shares update after Game 5 incident

There was a collective gasp when Kelsey Mitchell collapsed in Q3 of Game 5 on Tuesday. She was quickly rushed to the hospital. Fever coach Stephanie White said she was dealing with severe lower-body cramps. After slowing down following a play under the basket, Mitchell grabbed onto an official for support, and teammates Brianna Turner and Lexie Hull rushed to her side. Both teams’ players and trainers worked to shield her from cameras and assist her, while paramedics brought out a stretcher. However, she managed to walk off the court with help.

Now, Kelsey has given her KelzHoop fandom an update on her injury. She wrote on X, “I suffered from something called Rhabdomyolysis last night. My muscles stopped producing and reached its maximum capacity. I went into a sense of numbness/paralyzing feeling with no movement from my lower extremities for up to 5 to 7 seconds… I panicked because I began to think the worst when I felt I couldn’t move my legs. It was an out of body experience and I thank God for covering me at a time like that.” Mitchell said she’s feeling better and thanked the trainers and doctors who helped her at the game and at the hospital.

It was Kelsey Mitchell who kept the Indiana Fever’s playoff hopes alive, especially with star player Caitlin Clark out. Just a few days ago, coach Stephanie White praised Mitchell for her incredible contribution this season. Game 4 could be summed up in one word: “MVP!” Fans were chanting her name as she carried the team through six tough seasons and five different head coaches. She led the league with 111 three-pointers, scored 890 points, and dragged Indiana into the playoffs. “She just wants to play. Um and I’m incredibly proud of her,” White said. We only wish her the best and can’t wait to see her back on the court in action.