Kelsey Mitchell Weighs Free Agency After 24.7-Point Season as Fever Fan Dispute Deepens
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Oct 3
Kelsey Mitchell Weighs Free Agency After 24.7-Point Season as Fever Fan Dispute Deepens
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Oct 3
Summary
Mitchell said she will be "selfish" in free agency after a season she described as emotionally draining, saying Fever players often had to "compete for fans that may or may not like you."
The 9-year Fever guard tied that strain to the spotlight around Caitlin Clark, saying teammates absorb heavy online abuse and "a lot of flak" simply for being on Clark's team.
Amber Cox had just defended Indiana's fan base, saying no player-identified fan violated the WNBA code of conduct this season and no fan was removed from a game.
That stance drew pushback from former Fever player Brianna Turner, who called Cox's claim that attacks on the fan base lack "basis in reality" unequivocally false.
Mitchell, second in WNBA scoring at 24.7 points, said she still has deep ties to Indiana, but her unrestricted free agency opens in late January 2027.