Kelsey Mitchell delivered one of her strongest seasons with the Indiana Fever this year. She was a key piece of Indy’s roster, pushing through injuries and helping the team reach Game 5 of the semifinals. Mitchell played until her “wheels fell off,” battling through muscle fatigue as her body reached its limit.

Still, she isn’t slowing down this offseason. She first revealed plans to pursue a PhD at Liberty University, and now she’s onto the next big move.

Mitchell has officially signed with Project B, the global women’s basketball league launching in November 2026. “Project B represents the next evolution of women’s basketball. I’m honored to be part of this global movement and excited to compete on a stage built for the future of the game,” she shared in the announcement.

Mitchell will join one of the league’s six teams, each featuring 11 players, and travel through a worldwide, tournament-style circuit. That’s because Project B will operate across major markets in Europe, Asia, and Latin America. 

She’ll be doing all this while earning a seven-figure salary starting around $2 million, along with equity stakes. So yes, it’s a win-win for her. She isn’t the first to commit, though. Project B has already attracted top WNBA stars, including Kamilla Cardoso, Alyssa Thomas, and Nneka Ogwumike. 

As the league intends to become a premier destination for elite talent, Mitchell is a perfect fit. She has long been a fan favorite in Indiana, admired for her scoring, leadership, and resilience through adversity. The MVP finalist averaged 20.2 points per game and delivered a memorable 34-point performance in the Fever’s stunning Game 1 semifinal win over the Aces. 

She finished the season with 890 points-second in the league-and led the WNBA with 111 made three-pointers. So, yes, she’s an ideal candidate not just for Project B but for any basketball league. That’s why even Unrivaled’s got her inked for the current season. 

 She’s already drafted by Hive BC for the 2026 Unrivaled season. Also, she’s not playing for international leagues this time. It had always been part of her journey. She had played for Egypt’s Al Ahly in the 2019 FIBA Africa Women’s Clubs Champions Cup, for Elitzur Ramla in Israel in 2021–22, and for the Shanxi Flame in China during the 2024–25 season. So, yes, it’s all roses for Mitchell, but is it the same for WNBA?? 

WNBA stalls on new CBA as free agency chaos looms for Kelsey Mitchell

The women’s basketball traditional league is going through a transformational phase. Despite unprecedented growth, labor tensions have escalated. It came up when the players’ union opted out of the current CBA last October. Ever since the two parties sat across multiple negotiating sessions. A 30-day extension had also been signed, with only five days remaining. Yet, no new deal is in sight. 

Players have firm demands. The league hasn’t met them. Meanwhile, international leagues are offering massive salaries, equity, and global visibility. And since big stars are already committing to the international league, it just adds to the pressure on W. 

So, Mitchell will be joining 100 more players who are set to become unrestricted free agents. Not only is the process delayed, but she won’t know her future until the league reaches a new deal. Though she has expressed interest in testing free agency, even as Indy’s priority is to sign her again. 

“I think [family] has to be first and foremost important for me when I think about free agency. But on the flip side of things, knowing what Indiana means to me, it’s paramount, it’s huge… It’s a lot of what-ifs. But I like to think that in the right realm of work, I can’t not not think about Indiana, you know? Like, I can’t not not think about Indiana,” she told Sue Bird on October 24.

So yes, whether she returns will depend heavily on the WNBA’s new CBA.