Devastating Blow for Fever: Kelsey Mitchell Sidelined by Warmup Injury in WNBA Semifinals Clash..

Devastating Blow for Fever: Kelsey Mitchell Sidelined by Warmup Injury in WNBA Semifinals Clash..

In a gut-wrenching twist just hours before tip-off, Indiana Fever sharpshooter Kelsey Mitchell suffered an injury during pre-game warmups, ruling her out of Game 1 against the  Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA semifinals. The 29-year-old All-Star guard, who has been the heartbeat of Indiana’s improbable playoff run, twisted her ankle in a seemingly innocuous drill, sources confirmed to WNBA insiders.

Mitchell, averaging a blistering 23.3 points per game in the postseason on 44.4% from beyond the arc, has been nothing short of heroic amid the Fever’s injury-plagued campaign. With superstar Caitlin Clark already sidelined for the season due to a groin and ankle issue after just 13 regular-season appearances, Mitchell shouldered the offensive load, dropping 19 points in the series-clinching win over the Atlanta Dream. Her absence leaves Indiana – already missing Lexie Hull, Natasha Howard, Aliyah Boston, and Odyssey Sims to season-ending ailments – in dire straits against a loaded Aces squad boasting MVP A’ja Wilson and a 16-game regular-season winning streak.

Fever coach Stephanie White, her voice cracking in the post-warmup huddle, rallied her depleted roster: “We’ve fought through hell this year. Kelsey’s spirit lives in every one of us. This isn’t over.” White confirmed Mitchell’s status as “day-to-day,” but scans revealed swelling that precludes play tonight. The 6th-seeded Fever, who stunned the third-seeded Dream 2-1 in the first round for their first semis berth since 2015, now face an uphill battle in a best-of-five series. Las Vegas, fresh off a 2-1 quarterfinals triumph over the Seattle Storm, enters as heavy favorites at Michelob ULTRA Arena.

For Mitchell, the timing is cruel. Named to the AP All-WNBA First Team for the first time in her eight-year career, she exploded for 20.2 points per game overall, igniting Indiana’s 24-20 regular-season surge. Teammates like veteran forward Natasha Howard (out with a knee issue) had praised her as the “engine” post-Dream victory. Now, role players such as Shey Peddy and Aerial Powers must step up, while 2024 Rookie of the Year Aliyah Boston – if cleared from her questionable tag – anchors the paint against Wilson’s dominance.

Aces coach Becky Hammon expressed sympathy: “Prayers for Kelsey. She’s a warrior. But we’re locked in.” Game 1 tips at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN, with Indiana’s scrappy defense – which held foes to 104.4 offensive rating sans Clark – their lone hope. Can the Fever summon one more miracle? Or will Las Vegas cruise toward a third title in four years? The WNBA’s resilience narrative hangs in the balance.