With Caitlin Clark out for the foreseeable future, the Indiana Fever can’t afford another blow to its roster. That possibility nearly became reality on Sunday during the team’s 93-78 win over Chicago Sky, when Kelsey Mitchell hit the floor after a lay-up and appeared to be in pain, clutching her left groin in the second quarter.
While she returned to the match, with no apparent issues, head coach Stephanie White addressed the incident postgame. Asked about Mitchell’s health, White admitted there was cause for concern following the fall.
“Obviously, there was concern when it happened,” White told reporters, according to a video shared by IndyStar’s Brian Haenchen. “Sometimes, protecting airborne shooters and making sure that (they have) freedom of movement, all of that stuff is so important.”
She added, “So there’s concern while that’s going on. Obviously, there’s going to be concerns about her recovery, but not as far as anything acute that I know of. We haven’t really had that conversation yet.” White also clarified it was a contact injury, which may be less alarming than a non-contact one.
Meanwhile, Mitchell herself brushed off the scare. “I think it’s part of the game,” she said. “I think it comes with the territory of being a professional basketball player, but shout to Chicago. They’re always competitive.” She called the knock a “small hiccup” and said she doesn’t expect it to be a long-term issue.
Mitchell’s historic game
If Sunday was any indication, the injury didn’t slow her down. Mitchell erupted for a season-high 35 points, leading Indiana to its 14th win of the season. She became just the second Fever player, alongside Clark, to post at least 35 points, 5 assists, and 5 three-pointers in a single game.
The Fever will be back on the court Wednesday against the Phoenix Mercury. With their recent win, the Fever are now 14-12 in the regular season, being third in the Eastern Conference.