s Fever Star Kelsey Mitchell Reveals Medical Scare During Playoff Loss to Aces
Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell said she experienced a frightening medical episode during Tuesday night’s WNBA semifinal loss to the Las Vegas Aces. In a post shared on social media Wednesday, Mitchell revealed she suffered from rhabdomyolysis — a serious condition that temporarily left her unable to move her legs.
The incident occurred late in the third quarter of the Fever’s 107–98 overtime loss, which sent the defending champion Aces to their third Finals in four years. As Mitchell drove to the basket, she went down on the court and lay motionless while teammates and medical staff rushed to her side.
"I Couldn't Move My Legs": Mitchell Details Her Ordeal
“I suffered from something called Rhabdomyolysis last night. My muscles stopped producing and reached their maximum capacity,” Mitchell wrote. “I went into a sense of numbness/paralyzing feeling with no movement from my lower extremities for up to 5 to 7 seconds.”
She described the experience as “out of body,” adding, “I panicked because I began to think the worst when I felt I couldn’t move my legs. It was an out of body experience and I thank God for covering me at a time like that.”
A stretcher was brought onto the court, but ultimately not used. Mitchell was able to stand and walk with help before being transported to a nearby hospital for evaluation and treatment. She is now recovering and expressed gratitude to the medical staff who assisted her both on-site and at the hospital.
Key Piece of the Fever’s Playoff Run
The 29-year-old All-Star, who starred at Ohio State and hails from suburban Cincinnati, was instrumental in Indiana’s surprise postseason surge. Despite missing four key players, including rookie sensation Caitlin Clark, the Fever made a historic run — their first playoff series win in a decade.
Mitchell averaged 20.2 points during the regular season and elevated her performance in the playoffs, averaging 22.3 points over eight games. Her leadership was critical in Indiana’s comeback series win against Atlanta and their gritty effort against top-seeded Las Vegas.
"Played Until My Wheels Fell Off"
Even as the Fever lost All-Star center Aliyah Boston to fouls and Mitchell to cramping in the fourth quarter, they pushed the Aces to the brink in a hard-fought Game 5. “I played literally until my wheels fell off,” Mitchell wrote.
She ended her message with heartfelt thanks: “Thank you for the prayers, love, respect, and support throughout all of this.”
