Kelsey Mitchell Stats Tonight: Fever guard's hot scoring streak continues in loss vs Lynx

By John Ezekiel Hirro

Modified Sep 07, 2024 09:16 GMT

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Kelsey Mitchell has been on a hot streak recently as the Indiana Fever surged after the 2024 Paris Olympics break, securing a spot in the 2024 WNBA playoffs. Heading into tonight’s game, Mitchell, the longest-tenured Fever player, has scored 20 or more points in every post-break game except their latest against the LA Sparks, where she tallied 18 points.

On Friday, the Fever faced a tough challenge against the Minnesota Lynx. Mitchell recorded 10 points on 3-for-9 shooting, along with two assists and two rebounds, including a 3-pointer, in the first half. She was a plus-10 in nearly 18 minutes of play, helping the Fever lead 50-45 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Mitchell went 1-for-4 from the field and boosted her total to 15 points. However, the Fever were outscored 29-12 in the period, with Napheesa Collier scoring nine points, putting the Lynx up 74-62.

Mitchell opened the fourth quarter with a finger roll and a 3-pointer to reach the 20-point mark. With four minutes remaining, she drilled another 3-pointer to trim the Lynx lead to one.

However, Bridget Carlington sank back-to-back triples to give the Lynx a seven-point lead before drilling another with a little over a minute left to seal the win for Minnesota.

The Lynx won 99-88 in the end.

Here are Kelsey Mitchell's stats from tonight's game:

PLAYER	MIN	FGM-A	FG%	3PM-A	3P%	FTM-A	FT%	=+/-	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	PF	STL	TO	BS	PTS
Kelsey Mitchell	37:31	7-19	36.8	4-8	50.0	5-5	100.0	-6	0	2	2	2	3	0	4	0	23

Kelsey Mitchell to make WNBA playoffs debut

Like most of the Indiana Fever roster, Kelsey Mitchell will make her first playoff appearance. Drafted second overall out of Ohio State in 2018, Mitchell joined the team two years after their last playoff run.

Fever coach Christie Sides expressed her excitement for Mitchell’s upcoming playoff debut (via Indy Star(:

"Kelsey Mitchell, I just am really happy for her getting to experience this with what she's gone through here, and what she's done and who she is," Sides said.

Mitchell isn't leading the Fever alone — there’s also Rookie of the Year frontrunner Caitlin Clark and rising star Aliyah Boston. Clark, a key force in the Fever’s offense, is thrilled for Mitchell too:

"I'm definitely most happy for Kels," Clark said. "Like, Kelsey has been at this place for seven years, and, you know, has never been at the playoffs.

“She definitely deserves this moment. And obviously she's been playing really good basketball, too. So she's definitely, you know, helped us, helped us earn it," she added.

The Fever has just three players with playoff experience: Temi Fagbenle, Damiris Dantas and Erica Wheeler. Fagbenle and Dantas won championships with the Lynx, while Wheeler was part of Indiana's 2016 playoff team.

Reflecting on her journey, Mitchell said that winning has changed her perspective on the game (via AP News):

“I know what the bottom feels like, and I don’t want to be there no more,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell is currently leading the Fever in scoring with 19.0 points per game.