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Kelsey Mitchell’s Indiana Fever future takes the spotlight
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Kelsey Mitchell and the Indiana Fever’s season ended after losing Game 3 to the Las Vegas Aces. It was not the result they hoped her after entering the campaign as one of the title favorites. Now in the offseason, the four-time All-Star’s future continues to take the spotlight and grab headlines

She led Indiana’s charge on Thursday with 23 points and two rebounds in the 94-83 defeat. However, she struggled from the field, knocking down just 7-of-23 attempts. Aliyah Boston backed her with 19 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Caitlin Clark, who also had a poor shooting night, produced 18 points, on 6-of-18 shooting, with four assists and three three-pointers.

Mitchell will become an unrestricted free agent. Coming off a strong individual season, analysts expect her to generate a lot of interest from teams around the league. She averaged 24.7 points, 1.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.0 steals in 44 regular-season games.

Indiana Fever: Kelsey Mitchell’s free agency stands out

Mitchell will likely be one of the most sought after free agents this year. She averaged the second-most points per game in the league and broke several WNBA records. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne and Ogwunmike discussed the 30-year-old’s Fever future.

“This is an MVP candidate,” Shelburne said. “And there are teams that would want to build around a franchise player like that. So if she’s available, wooh.”

Ogwumike highlighted Mitchell’s ability to adjust quickly to a new system.

“We know a lot of athletes when they’re in their late 20s, early 30s,” Ogwumike said. “They feel like they have to be selfish because you don’t know how much more time you have left in the league and you want to make the most of everything. She also mentioned being selfish for her family. If you know Kelsey Mitchell and her story, she plays to honor her dad who she lost. So anytime I hear her, I just commend her and applaud her for how she’s handled this season.

“But also, what would the Fever be losing or missing if Kelsey Mitchell, who’s now an unrestricted free agent, leaves? This is someone who was No. 2 in the WNBA in scoring at 24.7 points per game. She set the single season scoring record this year, eclipsing A’ja Wilson, which is kind of wild iin that regard itself. And also, she’s a plug-and-play player. She can play on any team because she just fits within systems and is a tremendous scorer.”

Fever general manager Amber Cox also made it known that re-signing her is a major priority for the franchise. However, it remains to be seen if she will accept what Indiana offers or choose a new team and environment.

This article first appeared on ChiCitySports and was syndicated with permission.

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