# Kelsey Mitchell (basketball)

Kelsey Mitchell (born November 12, 1995) is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).

## College career

Mitchell completed her college career with the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2018. In February 2018, she was named the Big Ten women's basketball player of the year by the conference's coaches. She was a second-team All-American in 2015, 2017, and 2018, while notching first-team All-American in 2016.
As a college freshman in 2014–15, Mitchell finished the season with 873 total points, which were the second-most by a freshman in NCAA Division I history, behind Tina Hutchinson's 898 with San Diego State in 1983–84. During her senior season, Mitchell averaged 24.4 points per game on 46.1 percent shooting and 40.3 percent shooting from three. She also managed 4.1 assists per game and 3.2 rebounds per game. She finished the regular season of her final season with the third-most points in NCAA Division I history, and ultimately finished her career with 3,402 points, trailing only Kelsey Plum of Washington. In 2018, after her senior year, she won the Dawn Staley Award.

## Professional career
### WNBA
#### Indiana Fever (2018–present)

Mitchell was the second overall pick in the 2018 WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever, and was selected to the 2018 WNBA All-Rookie Team alongside A'ja Wilson, Ariel Atkins, and Diamond DeShields. Mitchell participated in the WNBA Three-Point Contest in 2018 and 2023. For her leadership on and off the court, Mitchell was awarded the 2023 Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award, becoming the 4th Fever player to win the recognition after Tamika Catchings (2008 & 2016) and Natalie Achonwa (2020). Mitchell participated in the 2024 Skills Challenge at 2024 WNBA All-Star Weekend after Fever teammate, Erica Wheeler, was unable to attend due to the global computer outages delaying her travel. She would earn back-to-back WNBA All-Star appearances in 2023 and 2024, alongside Fever teammates Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark.
After entering free agency in 2025, the Fever designated Mitchell as a core player, giving the team exclusive rights and guaranteeing her a supermax contract for the 2025 season. Mitchell had been the team's top signing priority according to Fever GM Amber Cox. Mitchell signed a core contract on January 29.

### Overseas

In 2019, Mitchell played for Egyptian club Al Ahly in the 2019 FIBA Africa Women's Clubs Champions Cup.
Mitchell signed with the Shanxi Flame of the Women's Chinese Basketball Association for the 2024–2025 season.

## Personal life

Mitchell is from Cincinnati, Ohio, and graduated from Princeton High School in Sharonville, Ohio. She has a twin sister.

## Career statistics
### WNBA
#### Regular season

Stats current through end of 2024 season
WNBA regular season statistics :
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PPG |
| 2018 | Indiana | 34 | 17 | 24.4 | .346 | .335 | .804 | 1.8 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 1.9 | 12.7 |
| 2019 | Indiana | 34 | 20 | 25.1 | .387 | .374 | .836 | 1.6 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 1.7 | 13.6 |
| 2020 | Indiana | 22 | 22 | 32.1 | .448 | .389 | .849 | 2.2 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 2.5 | 17.9 |
| 2021 | Indiana | 32 | 32 | 33.1 | .431 | .335 | .882 | 2.6 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 2.0 | 17.8 |
| 2022 | Indiana | 31 | 31 | 32.6 | .438 | .409 | .861 | 1.9 | 4.2 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 2.4 | 18.4 |
| 2023 | Indiana | 40° | 40° | 33.7 | .441 | .398 | .824 | 1.6 | 3.1 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 2.3 | 18.2 |
| 2024 | Indiana | 40° | 38 | 32.0 | .468 | .402 | .832 | 2.5 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 1.6 | 19.2 |
| Career | 7 years, 1 team | 233 | 200 | 30.4 | .426 | .378 | .839 | 2.0 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 2.0 | 16.8 |
| Career | All-Star | 2 | 0 | 13.0 | .467 | .125 | — | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7.5 |

#### Playoffs

WNBA playoff statistics :
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PPG |
| 2024 | Indiana | 2 | 2 | 38.5 | .421 | .263 | .500 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.5 | 19.0 |
| Career | 1 year, 1 team | 2 | 2 | 38.5 | .421 | .263 | .500 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.5 | 19.0 |

### College

NCAA statistics :
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PPG |
| 2014–15 | Ohio State | 35 | 35 | 37.1 | .415 | .378 | .835 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 4.1 | 24.9* |
| 2015–16 | Ohio State | 34 | 34 | 36.6 | .452 | .397 | .852 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 3.1 | 26.1 |
| 2016–17 | Ohio State | 35 | 35 | 34.2 | .437 | .369 | .818 | 2.8 | 3.9 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 2.4 | 22.6 |
| 2017–18 | Ohio State | 35 | 35 | 35.9 | .448 | .402 | .832 | 3.2 | 4.2 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 2.2 | 24.3 |
| Career | Career | 139 | 139 | 35.9 | .438 | .386 | .835 | 3.3 | 3.9 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 3.0 | 24.5 |