Kelsey Mitchell was selected No. 2 overall by the Indiana Fever in the 2018 WNBA Draft. She was the top guard prospect in the 2018 WNBA draft because of her history as one of the most prolific scorers in collegiate womenās basketball history. Mitchell is the second-leading scorer ever behind last yearās No. 1 pick, Kelsey Plum, finishing with 3,402 total. Thatās 24.5 points per game over 139 games.
The Indiana Fever are gaining an elite bucket-getter and fans should be really excited about this.
Mitchell was Ohio State basketballās star from the moment she walked onto campus. With 853 points, the 5ā8ā guard finished with the second-most points for a freshman in Division 1 womenās hoops history, and records continued on from there.
Even in an early Round of 32 loss in this seasonās NCAA Tournament, Mitchell dropped 28 points and made 6-of-16 threes. She put the finishing touches on her record for most consecutive games with a three at 91, and was her usual dominant self.
Why Fever fans be excited about Mitchell
Whether itās off-the-dribble or off assists from teammates, Mitchell really knows how to find the bottom of the net. Seattle Storm legend Sue Birdās compared her to Steph Curry, because you never know what sheās about to do with the ball, and that couldnāt be more accurate.
Mitchell can drive through the lane and dish, go up-and-under under a forest of 6-foot trees, and most impressively stop and pull-up from anywhere. Her range is limitless.
She made 40 percent of her 9.1 three-point attempts per game, which is otherworldly. In four seasons, sheās never attempted less than 8.8 attempts or shot worse than 37 percent. Sheās the perfect guard fit for a changing WNBA thatās valuing shots from range more than ever. According to the New York Times, three-pointers have increased by 23 percent since 2014. Mitchellās only going to raise that bar.
How ESPN analyst LaChina Robinson sees Mitchellās fit:
āThey donāt have Briann January anymore, and from what I understand Shenise Johnson wonāt be ready to start this season. In my opinion, they need a player who can play that 1-2 combo. I think Pokeyās excited to see what Kelsey Mitchell can be as a passer. She took a lot of shots and scored a lot of baskets. That was her role and what she was expected to do. But theyāve seen some other dimensions of her game as sheās been asked to move into the 1-spot in some situations. But thatās just a guess of mine.ā
Should fans be worried about Mitchell?
Mitchell checks every box as an all-around offensive star. She scores, she rebounds well (3.4 per game over her career), creates plays for others (4.1 assists per game), and has really improved her control with the ball. As a freshman, she turned it over four times per game, and by her second season she cut that number in half.
The questions for her are on the defensive end. At 5ā8ā sheās on the shorter side, though sheās no frail body. She isnāt known for her work on that side of the ball, but in all reality she wonāt have to be an elite defender to be an All-Star. Sheāll just need to stay aggressive firing the ball up.