The WNBA Finals didn’t leave much of an impression, but a new rivalry may have been born in the semifinals. While the Aces cruised through the Finals in four games with four sharp strategies, the semis were a different story. The Indiana Fever pushed them to an unforgettable Game 5 overtime thriller, one of the biggest stories in WNBA history. Without Clark and 4 more, it was hard to even think of such a miracle. Do you know what and who forced the Aces to Game 5? Kelsey Mitchell. Well, Chelsea Gray’s here to tell you!

As Gray felt her dominance firsthand, she spoke up when asked about Mitchell’s gameplay. “She finishes around the basket well with her versatility – able to get to the basket, she’ll dribble out, you think you’re sleeping, and pop a three. Like, she can score in transition, in the half-court. Her stop-and-go is so tricky. You don’t really want to be up because she’s quick enough to go downhill and get past you, but you can’t be too far back because…” she told Sue Bird during the October 17 episode of Bird’s View. 

“She’ll 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’s kind of built… With players like that, with teams like that, you can’t relax – that’s what makes them so challenging. The minute you take a beat, just blink for a second, they’re gone. It’s so hard,” she added.

Kel’s 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, “All we need, all we got,” 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.

Matter of fact, a single player can’t win you a championship, but Mitchell had been a catalyst for Indy’s success in the absence of stars like CC, Sophie Cunningham, and more. Kel didn’t let the Fever’s spirit die and opened the series with a 34-point outing, leading Indy to an 89–73 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.

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’ja 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’t enough to grab the win.

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’s just who Mitchell is – fierce, fearless, and all-in. But is it just the series versus the Aces where Mitchell was impactful? No.

She’s been unstoppable throughout the season!

Kel’s proved that she’s an ultimate nightmare for opposing guards, and this isn’t a one-season thing. Mitchel, since her time here at Indy, has been a consistent force. From 12.7 in her rookie year to 20.2 points on 45.6% shooting per game, she didn’t just carry the scoring load of Indiana but improved her numbers every year she suited up. That’s why Indy honored her by posting a tribute with the caption, “One of the hardest to guard.” Her dominance isn’t just reflected in numbers, though.

This season, she had her best career year, scoring 890 points, up from 767 last season. Even her fellow WNBA stars know how difficult it is to defend her. And no, it’s not just Gray. Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum highlighted her dominance, saying:

“She’s so fast. She can stop on a dime. A lot of guards, I feel like, are either one or the other… But she, I swear, it’s 50/50. You don’t know which way she’s going.” Plum added during a July interview, “And she’s fast as hell. I be stretching out way before the game.” 

Well, that combination of speed, unpredictability, and scoring versatility makes Mitchell a near-impossible matchup for any guard. And that’s exactly why Kelsey Mitchell is the No. 1 priority for the Fever to sign a deal with for the 2026 season. But what do you think – will it happen?