\u201cShe\u2019ll stop and pop three. You have to play her one-on-one and stuff like that. But what you need is a team defense that\u2019s kind of built\u2026 With players like that, with teams like that, you can\u2019t relax \u2013 that\u2019s what makes them so challenging. The minute you take a beat, just blink for a second, they\u2019re gone. It\u2019s so hard,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
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Kel\u2019s been a cornerstone for Indy in the absence of Caitlin Clark. The veteran scorer, averaging 20.2 points, not only drove the team morally with her rally cry, \u201cAll we need, all we got,\u201d but also with her dominance. She averaged 39.4% from deep, making her a threat from long range. All this was enough to anchor the injury-riddled Fever, taking them all the way to the semis, where they eventually forced Las Vegas into a do-or-die Game 5.<\/p>\n
via Imago<\/p>\n Sep 30, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell (0) dribbles against the Las Vegas Aces during the first quarter of game five of the second round of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs at Michelob Ultra Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images<\/p>\n Matter of fact, a single player can\u2019t win you a championship, but Mitchell had been a catalyst for Indy\u2019s success in the absence of stars like CC, Sophie Cunningham, and more. Kel didn\u2019t let the Fever\u2019s spirit die and opened the series with a 34-point outing, leading Indy to an 89\u201373 victory over the Aces. She even shot 52.2% from the field, including 4-of-6 from beyond the arc to give Indiana a 2-0 lead. This was her highest point total in a playoff game, and it set the tone for the series.<\/p>\n ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n In the second game, the Aces fought back with defensive adjustments. But despite the pressure and her being the target by the likes of A\u2019ja and Jackie Young, Mitchell still contributed 13 points on 4-of-14 shooting. Though she struggled in Game 3, this time she was unstoppable, leading Indy with 21 points, though it wasn\u2019t enough to grab the win.<\/p>\n Then came Game 4, where, facing elimination, Mitchell stepped up again. She had 25 points to help Indy secure a 90-83 win over the Aces. Game 5, however, was something none expected, as she sustained a leg injury in the third quarter due to cramping after contributing 15 points in 23 minutes of play. That\u2019s just who Mitchell is \u2013 fierce, fearless, and all-in. But is it just the series versus the Aces where Mitchell was impactful? No.<\/p>\n![\"article-image\"\/](\"https:\/\/image-cdn.essentiallysports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/USATSI_27216981.jpg?width=600\")
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