WNBA icon Lisa Leslie has openly praised Kelsey Mitchell as the most underrated player on the Indiana Fever, a sentiment originally shared in an Athlon Sports feature. Caitlin Clark is widely recognized as the leading player for the Fever, and their recent two-game losing streak during her injury absence highlights her importance to the team. However, Clark isn’t the sole contributor; that’s why the Fever’s management has built a team to support her. Veteran guard Kelsey Mitchell, who was the top overall pick in 2018, has been a pivotal force for Indiana even before Clark joined, and her presence has grown in significance since Clark’s arrival.
Leslie, a Hall of Famer known for her basketball acumen, emphasized in her podcast “Between the Lines” that Mitchell remains undervalued despite her visibility on the team. Lexie Hull, a teammate who has played alongside Mitchell for four years, echoed Leslie’s praise, highlighting Mitchell’s athleticism, speed, and skill in navigating defenses and scoring, insisting she deserves more recognition from fans and the league alike.
Mitchell’s current contract with the Fever runs through the end of the 2025 season after a one-year extension signed recently. Her future with the team beyond 2025 is still uncertain.
Fan Take: This recognition from legends like Lisa Leslie and teammates like Lexie Hull spotlights Kelsey Mitchell’s crucial role on the Fever and in the WNBA at large. For fans, it underscores the depth of talent in the league beyond the headline stars and hints at the exciting potential for the Fever if they continue to build around such key players.
