Jeremy Beren Wed, October 7, 2026 at 1:17 PM UTC · 2 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fever's Kelsey Mitchell named 'electric' fit for this emerging contender originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
Kelsey Mitchell has left her WNBA future undefined after she stated that she would be "selfish" in free agency this offseason.
Mitchell and the Indiana Fever could part ways next spring as the All-Star guard hits the market upon the expiration of her one-year, $1.4 million contract. Mitchell's value is at a career peak: she just averaged 24.7 points per game while setting a new WNBA record for points scored in a single season.
For Mitchell to leave the only franchise for which she has ever played, it will take a significant offer from a bona fide championship contender -- or a team that will get there by adding Mitchell.
MORE : Fever might be 'cooked' without Kelsey Mitchell, warns former NBA star
That's the situation in which the Washington Mystics find themselves, after a surprise playoff appearance in 2026 has the WNBA's youngest team ahead of schedule.
Meghan L. Hall of USA Today Sports lists the Mystics as one of Mitchell's possible fits if she leaves the Fever. She describes the potential match as "electric," as adding Mitchell to Washington's core of Shakira Austin, Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen would give the Mystics a premium scoring option it lacked this season.
"The Mystics are one of the grittiest young teams in the WNBA, with a high-octane defense (103.3 rating, second in the WNBA) and an offense that can also roll when it gets going," Hall wrote. "Adding Kelsey Mitchell to a young core that includes Shakira Austin, Kiki Iriafen, Sonia Citron and Georgia Amoore would be electric. Mitchell elevates their ceiling and brings veteran presence."
Washington set a franchise record with 28 wins in 2026 and secured the No.5 seed in the WNBA playoffs, where the Mystics lost to the Atlanta Dream in the first round.
Expectations will grow in 2027, and the Mystics will be considered a dark-horse candidate to win their first title since 2019.
Adding Mitchell, and her 25 points per game, to the backcourt will raise the expectations even more for this youthful group. That free-agent choice would alter the WNBA's balance of power and value the Mystics into a championship contention cycle.
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Source: Sport
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