Kelsey Mitchell says she’ll be ‘selfish’ about future as Fever free agency looms

Questions about fan behavior, the Indiana Fever's future and Kelsey Mitchell's free agency dominated discussions as members of the Fever met with reporters following their playoff elimination.

Mitchell, who has only played in a Fever uniform during her nine WNBA seasons, said she would "be selfish about where my career is going" as an unrestricted free agent. She also discussed the challenges of playing in the spotlight as Caitlin Clark's teammate.

"I don't think people really understand how much we endure, man," said Mitchell, who ranked second in WNBA scoring and set single-game and 3-point records this season. "Like, if I showed y'all my DMs about the hate and all of the stuff that comes with being a professional athlete, but specifically being an Indiana Fever basketball player, it's a lot that goes into that. And those days are hard as hell, man.

"Playing with (Clark) and having the eyes that she's got (on her), we get a lot of flak just from being on her team."

Player-fan tensions have been mounting in the WNBA and were evident during the Fever's first-round playoff series against the Las Vegas Aces. In the Fever's 99-89 Game 2 win at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Tuesday, reigning MVP A'ja Wilson confronted a fan seated behind the baseline.

Fever general manager Amber Cox defended her team's fans in her exit interview Saturday, saying the "attacks on our fanbase have no basis in reality."

The man who pointed and yelled at Wilson was temporarily removed from his seat but was found to have not violated the fan code of conduct. (Wilson received a technical foul but no further repercussions from the league.) Similarly, in an August game, a fan Jewell Loyd identified to officials was also found to have not broken conduct rules.

"Here's the fact: We did not have one fan pointed out by a player who violated the WNBA code of conduct this season," Cox said. "Not one fan was removed from a game. … Our fans love this team. They're going to cheer, they're going to boo, and sometimes they might point. It's a home-court advantage for a reason, and it's the same for the Pacers. And all of that is within the code of conduct."

Cox said fans who cross the line — in arenas and online — should be held accountable.

Former Indiana forward Brianna Turner, who now plays with the Aces, disputed Cox's characterization of Fever fans.

"This is an unequivocally false statement," said Turner, an eight-year veteran who played 27 games for the Fever in 2025, on X. "Players inside and outside the organization have repeatedly issued complaints with the Fever fanbase. While it's not all Indy fans, it's certainly a trend. To say the attacks have 'no basis in reality' is disingenuous."

The Fever seem eager to keep Mitchell as part of a core with Clark and Aliyah Boston in hopes of becoming title contenders . Mitchell averaged 24.7 points this season and was an MVP contender.

Mitchell told reporters that she's built a "Fever family" in Indiana and that "everything I've grown to be is (because of) the Fever." Free agency begins in late January 2027. Mitchell said she hasn't thought deeply about her options yet so soon after her season ended.

Fever coach Stephanie White lauded her star backcourt's on-court chemistry on Thursday.

"(Mitchell and Clark) complement one another so well," White said. "They make each other better. They make each other's lives easier. They've just been a joy to coach."