When the Indiana Fever was trying to build for the future with the strong young core at their disposal prioritised Kelsey Mitchell’s re-signing before making any trades in the 2024 off-season. She was part of ‘Fever’s Big-3’ in the 2024 season and a standout player, making them a strong contender in the league. And why not? Drafted in 2018 as the second overall pick, Fever already had plans to build a team around her.

The guard with tremendous potential shone at all levels in her basketball journey. During her high school years, McDonald’s All-American and Gatorade State Player of the Year in 2014, she played for Princeton High School. Leading the school in scoring, Kelsey won the State Championship in 2014.

In her Ohio childhood, Kelsey frequently played basketball at the Woodlawn Recreational Center, even competing against adults and seniors. Her presence on the courts was so synonymous that the Village of Woodlawn named one of the courts “Kelsey Mitchell Court” in 2019.

Joining the Ohio State College, Kelsey struggled a bit early in her basketball career. But later picked up her game and ended her career as the No. 2 scorer in NCAA history for Ohio State, with three-time Big Ten Player of the Year accolades and four-time All-American selections. Her growth to stardom was simply breathtaking, and the Indiana Fever selected Mitchell No. 2 overall in 2018.

Even though Mitchell is yet to win a title, many have always praised her game. One of the great point guard in the NBA Oscar Robertson, called her career ‘probably underappreciated’ while UConn’s legendary coach Geno Auriemma once praised her for her ability to score every possible shot. But her journey to such accolades had been very humble and sudden, with her family playing a key role in shaping Kelsey as a player.

Who is Kelsey Mitchell’s Father Mark? Was He a Professional Basketball Player?

“I’m the blueprint of what he taught. It’s all of me.” Kelsey Mitchell famously said about her father, who was a player, coach and mentor on her basketball journey. Mark Mitchell, though never pled basketball professional, was a standout lineman in football. He attended a few NFL tryouts but never made a roster.

Then he joined as a high school basketball coach and gym teacher throughout the Cincinnati area. Finding fondness early in her age, Kelsey would play basketball with big kids when she was just 4. At that age also, her scoring touch would also surprise Mark, as she could easily defeat the boys.

Mark, recalling her funny memory, once said, “When she was 4 years old, she chased a little boy who pushed her. She chased him around for the whole game. It took her the whole game to push him back. And then she got the ball, score three or four points and won the game.”

Experiencing her passion and love for the game, Mark recognised her potential early on and took an active role in her development. Kelsey often credits her father for shaping her approach to the game. Upon his untimely demise, she said in an interview with ESPN, “That was my best friend, and we did everything together. We kind of lived through each other on so many levels. He was my father, but we could talk about everything. And it sucks.”

Who is Kelsey Mitchell’s Mother?

Kelsey’s mother, Cheryl, was also an athlete and played basketball during her college days. Cheryl (Palmer) transferred to Eastern Kentucky from Mississippi Valley State and was the seventh top rebounder for the school. Although she never took an active part in coaching Kelsey, she was seen as a constant support system for the Fever star. Working as a social worker, Cheryl instilled a ‘giving’ nature in Kelsey.

Recalling Kelsey’s passion for the sport, Cheryl said, “She would just go with her dad everywhere, and her brothers. She’d just go, and she’d follow and she always had a basketball. I don’t care what gym, wherever we were, she always had it. Even when we were at the house, she always had a ball.”

While Kelsey is a hard worker and dedicated student of the game, her parents certainly instilled a high level of work ethic in her. “She always had that determination to be a great player. I don’t care what it was, whether it was a Sunday, whether it was on Tuesday or whether it was Wednesday. Kelsey always took that two hours out of her day to prepare and get better.” Her mother said. Kits not only her parents who helped Kelsey develop into the star she is now, but her siblings also played a vital role in Indiana Fever’s star’s initial phase.

Does Kelsey Mitchell have Siblings?

Kelsey Mitchell has three siblings. Elder twin brothers Kevin and Cameron and her twin sister Chelsea. With four children at home, Mark and his wife always thought of letting them pursue their dream of sport. “So my wife and I, we say that our kids probably did everything you could do,” Mark Mitchell said. “They did swimming, they did golf, bowling, Taekwondo, Tai Chi you name it, they did it. And, they were really, really good at it.”

It was not difficult for them as well. Growing up in a family with an athletic background, Kelsey’s brothers and sister also took up sports. Interestingly, they all tried their hands on multiple sports, both indoor and outdoor, and chose different sports altogether.

Cameron chose a budding football star who had the athletic prowess to excel in the game. His twin brother Kevin was a standout soccer player and even made it into the Team USA Development camps. Sadly, he gave up soccer when he joined his father at Taft High School, where there was no soccer team in the school. Chelsea was outspoken and also possessed the athletic skills to play games while Kelsey chose to take basketball as a career once she reached the seventh grade.

Four of them used to play basketball in the backyard of their suburban Cincinnati home, and it was this time playing against her brothers and their friends and sister Kelsey developed a competitive nature and skill-sets to reach the top level.