Fever Star Kelsey Mitchell Makes Personal Announcement

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paolo Songco | Last updated Apr 18, 2026 9:51 PM ET

Kelsey Mitchell is not going anywhere. After an offseason that was surrounded by some uncertainty, the three-time All-Star committed her future to the Indiana Fever by signing a new contract in WNBA free agency.

Mitchell’s new deal came out to $1.4 million for one year. This guarantees that the 5-foot-8 guard will remain in Indiana for at least one more season.

Mitchell, along with teammate Aliyah Boston, received an honor on Friday. The two Fever stars were recognized for their leadership in the community during the Steward Speakers Annual Fundraising Gala & Award Ceremony.

During the Q&A and meet-and-greet, Mitchell took the opportunity to make a personal announcement.

Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell during Game 4 against the Las Vegas Aces.Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Mitchell has firmly established herself as one of the top stars in the WNBA. Last season, she finished fifth in the MVP race behind averages of 20.2 points, 1.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.5 triples in 31.4 minutes per contest.

Amid her status as an elite guard in the league, however, Mitchell has also chosen to focus on her personal growth. She announced on Friday that she is currently back in school studying.

“I'm getting my Ph.D. in Educational Leadership,” Mitchell said. “Yeah, it's pretty hard being a student athlete at 30, but I guess I can do it. But it's been humbling.”

Mitchell revealed that she’s taking online classes at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. She expects to get her Ph.D. by 2028, but she’s already started attending classes.

“Recently, I just did a research class, and it was the worst in my life, y'all,” she said. “I was fighting for my life.

“But I think, in retrospect, it's good for me because the discipline that is kind of maintained with doing school and still being a pro, and what I do. It's kind of like, keeps me grounded, keeps me focused, keep me, I don't know, keep me in tune with the world.”