This article's lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points.(September 2024) |
No. 0–Shanxi Flame | |
---|---|
Position | Point guard/Shooting guard |
League | WCBA |
Personal information | |
Born | Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. | November 12, 1995
Listed height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
Listed weight | 160 lb (73 kg) |
Career information | |
High school | Princeton (Sharonville, Ohio) |
College | Ohio State (2014–2018) |
WNBA draft | 2018: 1st round, 2nd overall pick |
Selected by the Indiana Fever | |
Playing career | 2018–present |
Career history | |
2018–present | Indiana Fever |
2019 | Al Ahly |
2021–2022 | Elitzur Ramla |
2023 | Spar Citylift Girona |
2022–2024 | Athletes Unlimited League |
2024–present | Shanxi Flame |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Stats at Basketball Reference |
Kelsey Mitchell (born November 12, 1995[ citation needed ]) is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for the Shanxi Flame of the Women's Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA).
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. [1]
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. [2] 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, [3] and ultimately finished her career with 3,402 points, trailing only Kelsey Plum of Washington. [4] In 2018, after her senior year, she won the Dawn Staley Award.
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. [5] She would earn back-to-back WNBA All-Star appearances in 2023 and 2024, alongside Fever teammates Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark.
In 2019, Mitchell played for Egyptian club Al Ahly in the 2019 FIBA Africa Women's Clubs Champions Cup. [6]
Mitchell signed with the Shanxi Flame of the Women's Chinese Basketball Association for the 2024–2025 season. [7]
Mitchell is from Cincinnati, Ohio, and graduated from Princeton High School in Sharonville, Ohio. She has a twin sister. [8]
GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game | FG% | Field goal percentage |
3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage | RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game |
SPG | Steals per game | BPG | Blocks per game | TO | Turnovers per game | PPG | Points per game |
Bold | Career high | * | Led Division I | ° | Led the league | ‡ | WNBA record |
Stats current through end of 2024 season
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 |
All-Star | 2 | 0 | 13.0 | .467 | .125 | — | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7.5 |
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 |
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 | 139 | 139 | 35.9 | .438 | .386 | .835 | 3.3 | 3.9 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 3.0 | 24.5 |
The Indiana Fever are an American professional basketball team based in Indianapolis. The Fever compete in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) a member of the Eastern Conference. The team was founded before the 2000 season began. The team is owned by Herb Simon, the founder of Simon Property Group, who also owns the Fever's NBA counterpart, the Indiana Pacers.
Dawn Michelle Staley is an American basketball coach and former player who is the head coach for the South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team. A point guard, she played college basketball for the Virginia Cavaliers and spent eight seasons in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), primarily with the Charlotte Sting. Staley also played on the United States women's national basketball team, winning three gold medals at the Olympic Games from 1996 to 2004, and was the head coach of the team that won an Olympic gold medal in 2021. She is the first person to win the Naismith Award as both a player and a coach.
Tamika Devonne Catchings is an American retired professional basketball player who played her entire 15-year career for the Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Widely considered as one of the greatest female basketball players and one of the most decorated players in WNBA history, Catchings has won a WNBA championship (2012), WNBA Most Valuable Player Award (2011), WNBA Finals MVP Award (2012), five WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Awards, four Olympic gold medals, the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award (2002), and an NCAA championship with the University of Tennessee Lady Vols (1998). She is one of only 11 women to receive an Olympic gold medal, an NCAA Championship, a FIBA World Cup gold and a WNBA Championship. She has also been selected to ten WNBA All-Star teams, 12 All-WNBA teams, 12 All-Defensive teams and led the league in steals eight times. In 2011, Catchings was voted in by fans as one of the WNBA's Top 15 Players of All Time, and would be named to two more all-time WNBA teams, the WNBA Top 20@20 in 2016 and The W25 in 2021.
Katie Smith is an American basketball coach and former player who is an assistant coach for the Ohio State Buckeyes women's basketball team. She is the former head coach of the New York Liberty.
Erlana La'Nay Larkins is an American professional basketball player who is currently a free agent.
Jantel Lavender is an American professional basketball player who most recently played for the Seattle Storm of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She was drafted with the fifth overall pick in the 2011 WNBA draft by the Los Angeles Sparks.
Natalie Chioma Achonwa is a Canadian former professional basketball player and four-time Olympian with Canada's national team, and current assistant coach for player development at Michigan. She most recently played for the Minnesota Lynx of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played college basketball at Notre Dame. Achonwa was born in Toronto, Ontario, started playing basketball in Guelph, Ontario, and is 6 feet 3 inches (191 cm) tall.
Tayler Hill is an American professional basketball player who is currently a free agent. Hill previously played for the New York Liberty of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played college basketball for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Hill was a McDonald's All-American coming out of high school and left high school as the all-time leading scorer in Minnesota basketball history with 3,888 points. She was selected fourth overall in the 2013 WNBA draft by the Mystics.
Kelsey Christine Plum is an American professional basketball player for the Las Vegas Aces of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She won back-to-back WNBA championships in 2022 and 2023. In 2022, she earned her first All-WNBA First Team selection and was named the WNBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player (MVP) in her first WNBA All-Star Game. She also won gold medals in 3x3 basketball at the 2020 Summer Olympics and in 5x5 basketball in the 2024 Summer Olympics.
A'ja Riyadh Wilson is an American professional basketball player for the Las Vegas Aces of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).
Rachel Banham is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Banham played guard for the Minnesota Golden Gophers women's basketball team, where she set a number of team records. Banham was drafted by the Connecticut Sun with the 4th pick of the 2016 WNBA draft. Banham was traded to the Minnesota Lynx in 2020, and later re-signed with the Sun in 2024.
Tiffany Mitchell is an American professional basketball player for the Connecticut Sun of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She also currently plays for the Galatasaray of the Eurocup and Turkish Basketball Leagues. Mitchell played college basketball for the South Carolina Gamecocks, where she was a two-time SEC Player of the Year. After concluding her collegiate career, she was selected ninth overall in the 2016 WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever. During the WNBA off-seasons, Mitchell has played overseas in Russia, Turkey, Israel and Australia.
Erica Wheeler is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for Nesibe Aydın GSK of the Turkish Super League. Wheeler was undrafted out of Rutgers, but eventually made her way into the WNBA in 2015.
Stephanie Mavunga is an American and Polish professional basketball player who is currently a free agent. She was drafted by Indiana in the second round and 14th overall pick of the 2018 draft, becoming the first Zimbabwean-born player to be drafted by the WNBA. She switched her international allegiance to Poland in 2022.
Aliyah Boston is an American professional basketball power forward and center for the Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She was named 2023 WNBA Rookie of the Year in a unanimous vote and the AP Rookie of the Year. She played college basketball at the University of South Carolina.
Vicki Hall is an assistant coach with the Indiana Fever since 2021. Before joining the WNBA team, Hall served as the head coach of the Indiana State Sycamores women's basketball team from 2018 to 2021. As a basketball player, Hall accumulated 1,755 points with Brebeuf High School. She was the 1988 Naismith Prep Player of the Year and Gatorade High School Basketball Player of the Year. With the Texas Longhorns women's basketball team from 1988 to 1993, Hall reached the final eight of the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament between 1989 and 1990 and had 1,831 career points. Apart from college basketball, Hall won gold at the 1990 FIBA World Championship for Women and the 1990 Goodwill Games with the American women basketball team.
Caitlin Clark is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played college basketball for the Iowa Hawkeyes and is regarded as one of the greatest collegiate players of all time. Clark is the NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer and was a two-time national player of the year with the Hawkeyes. Since her college career, she has helped popularize women's basketball, a trend known as the "Caitlin Clark effect".
NaLyssa Smith is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for the Zhejiang Golden Bulls of the Women's Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA). She played college basketball for Baylor, winning the NCAA Division I Championship in 2019 and the Wade Trophy in 2021. She was drafted second overall by the Fever in the 2022 WNBA draft.
Destanni Mone Henderson is an American professional basketball player for Danilo's Pizza of the Turkish Super League. She previously played for the Indiana Fever, Los Angeles Sparks, Phoenix Mercury, and Atlanta Dream in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Henderson played college basketball for the South Carolina Gamecocks, helping her team win the national championship and earning first-team All-Southeastern Conference honors as a senior. At Fort Myers Senior High School, she won three straight state titles, was a McDonald's All-American selection and was rated as the number one point guard in her class by ESPN. Henderson competes for the United States national team and won a gold medal at the 2021 FIBA AmeriCup.
Taylor Ayn Mikesell is an American basketball player who is a free agent. She was drafted by the Indiana Fever in the 2023 WNBA Draft and played during the 2023 season for the Atlanta Dream. She played her college basketball at Ohio State Buckeyes of the Big Ten Conference. She previously played for the Maryland Terrapins and the Oregon Ducks.