Indiana Fever Must Keep Future Free Agent Kelsey Mitchell

The Indiana Fever must make keeping All-Star guard and soon to be WNBA free agent Kelsey Mitchell a priority.

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Caitlin Clark has gotten the bulk of the attention. Clark's connection with fellow number one overall draft pick Aliyah Boston has also been oft discussed. However, it is the Indiana Fever's third All-Star that has an uncertain future with the team.

Kelsey Mitchell, who has spent her entire career with the Fever, will be an unrestricted free agent this WNBA offseason. And if recent results are any indication, Indiana should do whatever it takes to keep her.

Mitchell has come out of the Olympics break on fire. Kelsey dropped 55 points between the last two games. But getting buckets for her comes naturally. KM is just behind CC for the overall team lead in scoring, putting up 17.7 points per game to Clark's 17.8. Mitchell is averaging 16.5 points per game during her seven seasons in the W.

Kelsey has combined with Caitlin to form perhaps the most explosive backcourt in the league. And one of the reasons it works so well is that the two have different games, however, one trait they share is speed. And each has pushed the pace to the detriment of the opponent, with Clark often looking to find teammates, and Mitchell generally heading straight for the basket.

It is Mitchell's ability to get her own shot that has also stood out. Kelsey's creativity in one-on-one situations gives the Fever a different look than how Clark generally conducts the offense. It also provides an escape option in late shot clock possessions. Mitchell is shooing a blistering 53.8% from the floor in clutch minutes (a game within five points in the last five minutes).

Plus, Mitchell has also thrived in catch and shoot situations, which is a perfect complement to Clark's playmaking. Kelsey is shooting 38.6% from three on the season. She has also worked well with her two All-Star teammates, having been assisted on 80 of her field goals by either Clark or Boston.

Kelsey Mitchell drains the catch & shoot three 🎯 pic.twitter.com/YCX8oMQGWW

— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) August 18, 2024

Kelsey will be a free agent after the season and is on record that she would like to make the most of the opportunity. However, Fever GM Lin Dunn expressed hope that Mitchell would see the positive direction the team is headed in when talking to Chloe Peterson of the Indianapolis Star.

Peterson laid out some of the options the team has with Mitchell, including signing her to a core qualifying offer. That would give them exclusive negotiating rights in exchange for a guaranteed one year supermax deal, which wouldn't be a huge jump from what she is making now.

The possibility of the Golden State Valkyries poaching Kelsey in an expansion draft was also mentioned, but Richard Cohen of Her Hoop Stats pointed out that teams were previously allowed to protect unrestricted free agents with tenure. The rules for the forthcoming expansion draft have not been released.

The Fever still have acres of cap space for next year, and if KMitchell hasn't signed an extension they'll almost certainly both protect her and core her. I don't think there's a lot of debate here (unless the league messes with the expansion rules to complicate things). #WNBA https://t.co/TR5yoeSSwo

— Richard Cohen (@RichardCohen1) August 21, 2024

Regardless of any complicating factors, the Fever need to make keeping Mitchell a priority. Because what she's doing at present is part of what makes their future look so bright. And as is, the trio of All-Stars in Indy will make the Fever a scary sight for any possible WNBA playoff opponents.