Kelsey Mitchell tied her profession excessive with 38 factors to raise the Indiana Fever to a 99–93 extra time win over the Connecticut Solar on Sunday. The comeback from a 21-point deficit underscored Mitchell’s significance because the guiding pressure for a group battered by accidents however refusing to interrupt.
The Fever trailed 54–33 within the third quarter and nonetheless confronted a 74–60 deficit with simply over six minutes remaining in regulation. However Mitchell, who had scored solely 4 factors at halftime, erupted for 34 after the break. She went 11-of-22 from the sphere, 5-of-8 from 3-point vary, and 11-of-12 from the free throw line, punctuating one of the memorable single-game performances in franchise historical past.
Her 38 factors marked the WNBA’s single-game scoring excessive this season and gave her an eleventh profession 30-point outing, breaking Corridor of Famer Tamika Catchings’ franchise file. Extra importantly, it gave the Fever their nineteenth win, transferring them additional into playoff competition regardless of one other night time of harm setbacks.
Mitchell’s Takeover After Halftime
Mitchell’s explosion got here after a scoreless stretch that noticed her start the sport 0-for-7 from the ground. By halftime, she had simply 4 factors, and the Fever trailed by double digits.
Head coach Stephanie White mentioned the distinction after the break was Mitchell’s dedication to remain aggressive.
“She was what, 0-for-7 within the first half and 4 factors and simply put us on her again,” White mentioned. “Made large shot after large shot, large play after large play. She didn’t settle. She stayed aggressive and, you recognize, she willed us.”
Mitchell mentioned the turning level was not about schemes or changes however a few shift in mentality.
“I feel it was extra about what we did from a standpoint of the mindset and the mentality from half to half,” Mitchell mentioned. “It sucked for me first half. It simply wasn’t. … However the resiliency is true in our room. Seeing Soph (Cunningham) go down after which realizing what occurred with Syd and realizing what occurred with Aari (McDonald) after which realizing what occurred with CC (Clark), it’s like numerous it was simply God and having the ability to keep ready and keep in your psychological state to compete. I actually assume that’s probably the most resilient we’ve ever been.”
In extra time, Mitchell accounted for Indiana’s first 10 factors, hitting back-to-back threes and driving without cost throws earlier than Lexie Hull buried a nook triple with 44.9 seconds remaining to offer the Fever a 97–90 lead.
They aren’t saying her identify sufficient however Kelsey Mitchell is a DAWG! pic.twitter.com/1TLvnSmfxi
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) August 17, 2025
Adversity Fuels the Fever
The Fever confronted one other blow when Sophie Cunningham exited within the second quarter with a knee harm. Already lacking Caitlin Clark for the thirteenth straight recreation and dropping Aari McDonald and Sydney Colson to season-ending accidents, Indiana needed to regroup. Mitchell admitted it felt like “deja vu.”
“I felt prefer it was deja vu, man, to be sincere,” she mentioned. “Seeing S go down, it fuels you, man. When you care about your group and the individuals in your locker room, it fuels who we’re as individuals. And y’all get to see it as a group for us.”
Boston mentioned the locker room message was easy.
“After we got here in at halftime, we talked about one, chipping away. Being resilient. That’s form of been our story this whole season,” Boston mentioned. “We’re down 21 and we come again and we play. And I feel what stands out probably the most is simply everybody coming in and affecting the sport the way in which they did.”
White emphasised that the group stayed linked as an alternative of fracturing.
“When Sophie went down, it was one other blow, proper? One other intestine punch,” White mentioned. “Fortuitously, we have been in a position to are available at halftime and regroup and re-emphasize that we’ve got sufficient. And that begins on the defensive finish.”
that’s our MVP 🌟
Kelsey Mitchell has handed Tamika Catchings for probably the most profession video games with 30+ factors in franchise historical past with 11. pic.twitter.com/H34z6rx6Xd
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) August 17, 2025
Boston, Sims and Howard Ship
Aliyah Boston delivered her typical all-around manufacturing with 14 factors, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, two steals, and two blocks. She additionally gave Mitchell her due on an evening that showcased her as one of many league’s most respected gamers.
“Whenever you have a look at Kelsey’s play and what she means to the squad, I feel it form of speaks for her case generally,” Boston mentioned. “She comes out, she defends. She scores the ball, she performs 40 minutes a recreation, and he or she nonetheless persistently places up these numbers. If she’s not MVP, shoot, MVP is loopy.”
Odyssey Sims, solely three video games into her Fever tenure, completed with 19 factors and 7 assists. Mitchell mentioned Sims’ aggressiveness has made a right away influence.
“Yeah, I feel O’s mindset is the very first thing,” Mitchell mentioned. “Ever since she stepped foot with us, it’s been questioned. She’s been keen. … We all know why you’re right here. You know the way to attain the ball. You know the way to defend. Be you. And I feel as we speak was an important recreation for that. She actually simply embraced it. She acquired downhill, acquired to the free throw line, and actually simply dominated and her presence was felt.”
Natasha Howard additionally chipped in 18 factors and 9 rebounds as Indiana moved to 19–16 on the season.
Togetherness Defines the Fever
Mitchell mentioned the defining theme of the group is summed up in a single phrase they repeat in each huddle.
“Day-after-day in our huddle, that’s what we are saying: collectively. And it’s simply greater than phrases for us,” Mitchell mentioned. “When you unfold aside, the season goes down faster than anything. We come within the locker room and we’re motivated. Chip away, chip away. That’s our mindset. And simply proceed to uplift individuals. When one particular person goes down, we are saying it on a regular basis, the following lady stands up. And that’s what we’re simply going to proceed to do.”
For Mitchell, the enjoyment of competitors underscored the victory.
“I simply like to compete. I really like basketball that a lot and I feel basketball saved numerous our lives,” she mentioned. “The gasoline of the second was excellent for us as a result of we would have liked it. That fueled power from our group is particular. Nobody can break it.”
What’s Subsequent
The Solar, led by Marina Mabrey’s 27 factors and Tina Charles’ 21, dropped to six–27. Rookie Leïla Lacan handed out a season-high 14 assists, whereas Saniya Rivers blocked 5 pictures.
Indiana hosts Minnesota on Friday to open a home-and-home towards the league-leading Lynx.
