Kelsey Mitchell Makes Big Career Move Before WNBA Free Agency!

With the help of Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark, fellow guard Kelsey Mitchell had the best season of her WNBA career.

Playing in all 40 games, Mitchell averaged career highs in points per game (19.2) and shooting efficiency (46.8%). The guard helped guide Indiana to its first postseason appearance since 2016, which was the first playoff appearance of her seven-year career.

Now, the former Ohio State Buckeyes star is a free agent. She spent the last three years playing on a $618,000 contract, and the Fever have expressed interest in bringing back the All-Star. The free agent signing period begins in February.

This offseason, Mitchell, like many other WNBA players, signed to play overseas. The guard signed with the Shanxi Flame of the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA), a team that previously fielded stars Maya Moore, Alyssa Thomas and Jewell Loyd.

On Monday, one day after the Fever announced they were letting go of coach Christie Sides, Mitchell arrived in China.  A video of Mitchell’s arrival was posted online and it appeared her new team welcomed her with open arms. She also introduced herself to her new fans.

“I am Kelsey Mitchell,” Mitchell said. “I am a guard, and I look forward to playing with the team this year. I think (Shanxi) is beautiful. It’s big. It has a lot of culture and I want to learn a lot about the city. … Thank you for having me. I hope to do right by you, and I hope you guys come and see us win.”

The Flame are located in Taiyuan, China, the capital city of the Shanxi province. Thomas, the Connecticut Sun’s star forward, played for the squad in the 2023-24 season. The club won three consecutive WCBA championships (2013-2015) when Moore was with the team.

This is not the first time Mitchell has taken her talents overseas, but it is the first time she will play in China. Previously, Mitchell played in Egypt (Al Ahly), Israel (Elitzur Ramla), and Spain (Spar Citylift Girona).