Move over, NBA globetrotters—Kelsey Mitchell is taking the scenic route to basketball greatness. The Indiana Fever’s scoring machine is headed to China for the offseason, proving that even in the wild world of hoops, there’s always time for some international flair and dumpling adventures.
After a blockbuster 2024 season, Mitchell is entering free agency like an MVP candidate shopping for a dream house—carefully but with a little swagger. With career-best averages of 19.2 points per game and a sizzling 46.8% shooting clip, Mitchell lit up the WNBA this year. Oh, and did we mention she finally made it to the playoffs in her seventh season? Cue the applause, Indiana! Fever fans, you waited since 2016 for this moment. You earned it.
But before the WNBA drama kicks off again in 2025, Mitchell isn’t sitting still—because, well, buckets don’t get themselves. She’s packing her bags and heading to China’s Women’s Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA) to play for the Shanxi Flame. Yep, the same Shanxi Flame that hosted basketball royalty like Maya Moore, Alyssa Thomas, and Jewell Loyd. Mitchell’s got some big shoes to fill—and no pressure, but we’re all rooting for her to light things up like a sparkler on New Year’s Eve.
“I am Kelsey Mitchell,” she introduced herself upon arrival in Taiyuan (which, fun fact, isn’t just a basketball hub but also known for vinegar… because why not?). “I am a guard, and I look forward to playing with the team this year. I think [Shanxi] is beautiful. It has a lot of culture, and I want to learn a lot about the city.”
Translation: “I plan to shoot threes, eat street food, and maybe pick up some Mandarin while I’m at it.”
Let’s not forget the timing of this move, either. Just one day after the Fever announced the firing of coach Christie Sides—Mitchell probably figured it was time to hop on a plane and enjoy a change of scenery. And honestly, who could blame her? A little off-court drama never hurt anyone, and nothing clears the mind like a new league and a new continent.
Now, Fever fans may be sweating about what happens next. Will Indiana keep its sharpshooting star in 2025, or will Mitchell’s overseas adventures lure her away? The $618,000 contract she signed back in 2022 is up, and a new deal—if it comes—could look very different. Until then, Indiana Fever faithful will just have to stay glued to Mitchell’s WCBA highlights and hope for good news in the offseason.
As for Mitchell’s new squad, the Shanxi Flame is no joke. This is a team that went on a title spree from 2013 to 2015, thanks to Maya Moore’s magic. Alyssa Thomas brought more star power last year, and now it’s Kelsey’s turn to carry the torch.
It’s worth noting that this isn’t Mitchell’s first overseas rodeo—she’s made stops in Egypt, Israel, and Spain before. But China? That’s a whole new chapter. If the hoops don’t keep her busy, maybe she’ll start a travel blog: “Kelsey’s Court Chronicles: Buckets and Dumplings.”
The countdown to the 2025 WNBA season is already heating up, but for now, Mitchell’s got a whole season of ball to play in the WCBA. Will she torch the league? Probably. Will she come back to the Fever or test free agency waters? Only time (and maybe a few late-night contract meetings) will tell.
Either way, Indiana fans will be watching—and if Mitchell brings home a WCBA championship, who knows? Taiyuan might just have to name a dumpling after her.