INDIANAPOLIS — Retaining unrestricted free agent Kelsey Mitchell is a top offseason priority for the Indiana Fever, both GM Amber Cox and coach Stephanie White acknowledged Saturday morning. The four-time All-Star had a career year in which she set the WNBA single-season record for points scored and 3-point field goals made.
Mitchell, however, said she’ll be “selfish” with her decision-making.
“I have to be selfish,” Mitchell said during her end-of-season media session. “I think that’s where I am in my career … what I probably need and what’s probably best for me. So, I have to be selfish in that room. But I think, ultimately, being on the Fever and being a part of an organization that does come with a lot of ups and downs, what factors in and what is important for me is, obviously, having a good chemistry on and off the floor. I’ve only been with one team my entire career, so it’s all kind of like figuring this out, It’s hard, man.”
Mitchell ranked No. 2 in the league with a career-high 24.7 points per game while shooting 50.9% from the field and 45.0% from behind the arc. She’s expected to receive a high number of MVP votes and be named all-WNBA first team for the second season in a row.
Cox said the goal is to have Mitchell retire in a Fever uniform.
“She has a lot of equity in this franchise and has put in a lot of time,” Cox said. “She’s meant so much to us and has, obviously, had, arguably, the best season in the history of our league in terms of being a scoring guard. The numbers she put up were just spectacular and you hear night-in and night-out from players across this league — the hardest person to guard in this league is Kelsey Mitchell.
“When you put her in the backcourt with Caitlin [Clark]) … historic in terms of what they were able to do and we hope we have the opportunity to build upon that.”
Mitchell and Clark became the highest-scoring duo in WNBA history as they led highest-scoring offense in league history. The 30-year-old also set the league record for the most consecutive games scoring 20-plus points (27). Mitchell received the core designation from the team the last two seasons and cannot receive it again.
Being in a backcourt with Clark is something Mitchell values, she explained, and that will be important in her decision-making. But Mitchell also added that playing in Indiana and with Clark can be difficult due to the vitriol from some fans. The No. 2 overall pick in 2018 has never played for another team.
“It’s a lot to hash out,” Mitchell said. “I just think that I’ve got to be selfish about where my career is going a little bit in terms of some of the things, as I get older, what’s important for me. Whether it be winning, whether it be my own individual success. I worked my tail off to be here, though, man. So, whatever I do, it’s gonna come from a selfish standpoint. I’ll be honest about that.”
A more difficult decision for the Fever lies with unrestricted free agent Sophie Cunningham. The eight-year veteran had a strong start to the season and was even considered a Sixth Player of the Year candidate after the first two months, but cooled down the stretch. She finished with an average of 7.9 points per game, her lowest scoring average since 2023. Controversy also swirled around Cunningham on multiple occasions for her comments to ESPN regarding transgender athletes, a kerfuffle with DiJonai Carrington, and a finger-pointing incident with DeWanna Bonner. She is particularly outspoken on social media and her podcast. Protesters and supporters began to show up outside areas after Cunningham’s comments regarding transgender athletes in women’s sports.
Cox said non-basketball related situations would not influence her evaluation of Cunningham.
“Sophie’s had two really productive years for us in terms of shooting the basketball,” Cox said. “She is a really solid leader in the locker room, a great connector. She brings levity, but also brings a lot of experience. She’s serious and is an important voice in our locker room when we need it. When we really need to lock in.
“She’s an unrestricted free agent, so we look forward to having those conversations. Again, she had a really productive year, and we’ll see just where things take us.”
