Indiana Fever 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 the details on his social media. The concerning incident occurred at the end of the third quarter of the overtime loss by 107-98 against the Las Vegas Aces. This victory secured the Aces their third WNBA final in four years and eliminated the Fever after an unexpected playoff run. All-Star center Aliyah Boston committed her fifth foul while blocking Mitchell, who was heading towards the basket. Mitchell ended up on the floor, surrounded by players and coaches who used towels to protect 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 something called Rhabdomyolysis last night. My muscles stopped producing and reached their maximum capacity. I entered a feeling of numbness/paralysis without movement in my lower extremities for about 5 to 7 seconds.
Kelsey Mitchell
Mitchell added 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 in the Cincinnati suburbs, was one of the key engines of Indiana’s incredible season. After participating in 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 injuries that ended their seasons. Despite this, with Mitchell at the helm, Indiana won its first playoff series in a decade, overcoming a 1-0 deficit in a best-of-three first-round series against Atlanta. The Fever took the second-seeded Las Vegas 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 protecting me at such a moment.
Kelsey Mitchell
I literally played until my wheels fell off. THANK YOU for the prayers, the love, the respect, and the support throughout all of this.
Kelsey Mitchell
