Kelsey Mitchell carried the injury-ravaged Fever last season, and now Indiana is adding freight in the form of a landmark contract worth $1.4 million for the 2026 season, according to reports by ESPN and The Athletic.

Mitchell and the Fever, the only franchise she has played for since entering the league in 2018, agreed to the “supermax” contract, a one-year deal, rewarding Mitchell for a career year that raised her profile in the WNBA conversation.

She averaged 20.2 points and 3.4 assists per game in 2025 to be selected to the All-WNBA First Team.

With 2024 No. 1 pick Caitlin Clark hobbled by a groin injury most of last season and Sophie Cunningham later joining her with a season-ending injury, Mitchell pushed the Fever to the playoffs and within one win of advancing to the WNBA Finals. The Fever lost in Game 5 of the WNBA semifinals to the Las Vegas Aces, who went on to win the title.

Mitchell, 30, put together two huge games in Indiana’s two wins in the five-game series with 34 in Game 1 and 25 points, four assists and three rebounds in Game 4.

Mitchell averaged 22.3 points in eight playoff games and was fifth in WNBA MVP voting.

In 277 career games (244 starts), Mitchell has averaged 17.4 points, 2.9 assists and shot 38.1% from 3-point range.

–Field Level Media