Kelsey Mitchell, always a fan favorite of the Indiana Fever, was one of the team's most consistent driving forces during the 2025 season. The Fever experienced a series of season-ending injuries and a roller coaster of emotions last year, and Mitchell consistently provided the team with a necessary degree of veteran leadership and performance that kept them going.
But even Mitchell is starting to show signs that the lingering CBA negotiations between the WNBA and the WNBPA are taking a toll — and no one is sure of what the future holds. Though Napheesa Collier told USA Today Sports this week that she believes a new agreement will be signed before the 2026 season is set to begin, Mitchell and others have admitted they aren't as confident about what this season might look like.
During an interview on the February 19 episode of Lisa Leslie's "Between the Lines" podcast Mitchell admitted she's a little worried about whether she'll be on the court this year. "And so none of us knows what our future holds, which is scary. I'll be honest with you, it's scary. But on the flip side, it's like, none of us know what our future holds," she said.
"And so when we have these conversations about what we want to do, and what we do see, where we want to go potentially, it comes from a place of understanding," she added.
Kelsey Mitchell will be a free agent this year
Like most of the WNBA, Mitchell is set to become a free agent once a new CBA is locked into place. A timeline for free agency has not been established, and the expansion drafts for the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire will likely take precedence once an agreement is reached. It's likely the new teams have already mapped out their expansion draft goals, and free agency could theoretically begin soon after those drafts are held.
For Mitchell, the looming weight of CBA negotiations and the accompanying questions have been felt at Unrivaled, where she's playing for the Hive BC. But she's also finding plenty of opportunities to have fun with her teammates, which include Sonia Citron, Ezi Magbegor, Monique Billings, Natisha Heideman, and Azura Stevens.
The Fever made it clear soon after the team's performance in the 2025 playoffs that bringing Mitchell back to the team is a major priority. Mitchell, who joined the team eight years ago, has seen the franchise through its many ups and downs, and will hopefully have the opportunity to continue to steer the team toward success.