What is Kelsey Mitchell Injury? When Will Indiana Fever's Point Guard Return to the Basketball Court?

Kelsey Mitchell, a star of the Indiana Fever, has been one of the WNBA’s most resilient and explosive players at the guard position, but the Fever’s semifinal matchup against the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday saw a course of events no one expected. Fans across the league are wondering: “What is Kelsey Mitchell’s injury?”
The Kelsey Mitchell injury is not only a personal issue to her, but she is also the latest player to suffer an injury on an already depleted Fever roster. Given the Stakes of Indiana’s quest for a playoff run, her absence has the potential to change the championship landscape for all involved.

Kelsey Mitchell Injury: A Shocking Moment on the Court

The mood in Las Vegas was tense. With 5:05 to go in the third quarter of decisive Game 5, Mitchell hit a 3-pointer, but then began moving slowly as she leaned on the referee for support. Moments later, she collapsed while holding her left leg. Her teammates immediately formed a circle around her while signaling with towels to cover the moment from the cameras. The crowd became even more silent. A stretcher was brought onto the court, but in true culinary fashion, Mitchell declined it and walked off using the support of two teammates.
Sideline reports detailed that trainers were treating her left quad and that she was also cramped in her right leg. After a few minutes, the Fever ruled her out for the remainder of the game. Later, the team confirmed that Mitchell was still going through a series of evaluations with no timetable for her Kelsey Mitchell injury return date. Fans across social media are asking, “Is Kelsey Mitchell playing tonight?” but the answer remains uncertain.

What’s Next for the Indiana Fever?

Mitchell’s absence is making even bigger waves for the Fever, who have already had their share of difficult injuries. Stars Caitlin Clark, Aari McDonald, Sydney Colson, and Sophie Cunningham are all out with season-ending injuries. If you add Damiris Dantas to the protocol for concussion-like symptoms and Lexie Hull is still playing through a back injury, Mitchell’s departure has pushed Indiana’s roster to its limits.
Regardless, head Coach Stephanie White encouraged her players to continue fighting:

Mitchell, who was a WNBA MVP finalist, was averaging 23.3 points and 3.1 assists before the Kelsey Mitchell injury, which shows how important she was to Indiana’s offense. If she is out longer-term, her ability to lead and score will be missed.
In a show of solidarity throughout the sports landscape for Indiana, Tyrese Haliburton, who is out for the entire 2025-26 NBA season with an Achilles injury, tweeted out a message of support for Mitchell. The question on everyone’s mind now is twofold: Is Kelsey Mitchell playing tonight? And if not, when can fans expect a Kelsey Mitchell injury return date