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Kelsey Mitchell was forced to carry a much heavier load than expected for the Indiana Fever this past season. This was amidst the team’s full-blown injury crisis, which saw no fewer than five players suffer season-ending injuries throughout the campaign. That included cornerstone superstar Caitlin Clark, who was limited to just 13 games in her second WNBA season.
Mitchell stepped up as the Fever struggled with injuries. She played in all 44 regular-season games, averaging a career-high 20.2 points on 45.6% shooting, 1.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.5 triples per game. Her incredible campaign led to Mitchell finishing fifth in the MVP race.
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Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell looks on during Game 3 of the WNBA semifinals against the Las Vegas Aces.© Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Mitchell literally played through for the Fever until she couldn’t. After playing all eight contests in the playoffs, the three-time All-Star was forced to exit the do-or-die Game 5 showdown against the Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals due to what was later diagnosed as Rhabdomyolysis. Mitchell’s muscles basically stopped working after reaching their maximum capacity.
Apart from being one of the top players in the WNBA, however, Mitchell is active when it comes to giving back. The 30-year-old is well aware that she’s in a privileged position, which is why she’s doing what she can to share her blessings with her community.
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On Friday night, Mitchell took to social media to ask for some help with her latest initiative.
“i need you all to help me make Christmas fun for families. sharing is caring. if you can’t make it, you can still contribute,” she captioned her post, sharing multiple donation options for her charity drive.
Mitchell shared a post from her foundation, the Kelzhoop Foundation, about her fifth annual toy drive. It will be held on Saturday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. in her hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio. She is requesting toys and books, which will be given as gifts to underprivileged kids.
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Mitchell established her foundation in 2021 to help young student-athletes in her native Ohio. The nonprofit aims to assist kids with limited opportunities in competitive sports. The Kelzhoop Foundation also hosts an annual basketball camp.
As for Mitchell’s future with the Fever, the 5-foot-8 guard must negotiate a new deal with the team. Her current contract has already come to an end, and she will be an unrestricted free agent once the window officially opens on Feb. 1.
Related: Indiana Fever React to Stephanie White’s Caitlin Clark Statement
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Dec 6, 2025, where it first appeared in the WNBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
