INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Fever All-Star guard Kelsey Mitchell revealed on Wednesday that a medical condition prevented her muscles from functioning properly, leaving her unable to move her legs during Tuesday night’s WNBA semifinal game. Mitchell shared details about his condition through his social media. The worrying situation occurred at the end of the third quarter of the match, which culminated in an overtime loss of 107-98 against the Las Vegas Aces. This victory secured the Aces’ place in their third WNBA final in four years, eliminating the Fever after an outstanding performance in the playoffs. All-Star center Aliyah Boston was called for her fifth foul while attempting a block, just as Mitchell was heading towards the basket. Mitchell fell to the floor, and players and coaches gathered around to assist her, using towels to preserve her privacy. Although a stretcher was prepared, it was not needed. Mitchell managed to stand up and was taken to a hospital for treatment.
“I suffered from something called rhabdomyolysis last night. My muscles stopped producing and reached their maximum capacity,” she wrote. “I went into a feeling of numbness/paralysis, with no movement in my lower extremities for about 5 to 7 seconds.
Kelsey Mitchell
Mitchell reported that she is recovering and thanked the coaches and doctors who attended to her both in the arena and in the hospital. The 29-year-old player, a former Ohio State star who played high school basketball outside of Cincinnati, was one of the key figures in Indiana’s outstanding season. After being selected for her third All-Star Game, she led the team in scoring during the regular season, averaging 20.2 points. She repeated her performance in the postseason, averaging 22.3 points in 32.6 minutes in eight playoff games. The Fever played without four key players, including All-Star guard Caitlin Clark, due to season-ending injuries. Despite this, with Mitchell at the helm, Indiana won its first playoff series in a decade, overcoming a 1-0 deficit in the first round against Atlanta. The Fever took the Aces, the second seed, to a decisive fifth game and then to overtime, despite losing Boston to fouls and Mitchell to cramps.“I panicked because I started thinking the worst when I felt I couldn’t move my legs. It was an out-of-body experience and I thank God for watching over me at a time like that”.
Kelsey Mitchell
“…I literally played until my wheels fell off,” Mitchell wrote. “THANK YOU for the prayers, love, respect, and support throughout this.”
Kelsey Mitchell
