In the ever-dramatic world of the WNBA, Sheryl Swoopes is back in the hot seat, and boy, are the fans ready to dish out the shade. This time, the four-time WNBA champion and podcast provocateur sparked a social media storm over her latest comments about Indiana Fever star Kelsey Mitchell, who just so happens to be an unrestricted free agent. Convenient timing, right?
Appearing on her podcast “Levels to This” with co-host Terrika Foster-Brasby, Swoopes took aim at the Fever’s handling of Mitchell during the Caitlin Clark show. The franchise, it seems, didn’t roll out the red carpet for Mitchell like Swoopes would have expected. Maybe because the rookie sensation Clark was hogging the spotlight? Who knows?
“Personally, here’s where I think (the Fever) didn’t do a very good job, and that was with Kelsey Mitchell,” Swoopes said, clearly unbothered by the online pitchforks. “Because Kelsey Mitchell had a hell of a season this season, and I don’t think that she got the credit that she deserved.”
Queue the collective eye-roll from WNBA Twitter, where fans quickly reminded Swoopes that her “take” wasn’t exactly the mic drop she thought it was. Some even accused her of meddling in free agency. Again. Because, well, if you’re going to be a villain, might as well lean into it, right?
One fan quipped, “Jesus that hater is STILL trying to tamper after last season. She didn’t make enough of a fool of herself I guess.” Ouch. Another user snarked, “Of course, our girl Sheryl Swoopes trying everything in her power to dissuade Kelsey Mitchell from re-signing with the Fever. It’s funny bc they were saying how she didn’t deserve to be an all-star earlier in the year, but now she doesn’t get enough credit.”
Yes, Swoopes has had her run-ins with the Fever faithful before, so this latest comment? Not a shocker. Fans were quick to point out her earlier claims from the 2024 season, where she suggested, rather cryptically, that all was not well in the Fever locker room under the Caitlin Clark regime. However, despite her insistence that players were unhappy, she didn’t exactly come with receipts.
Meanwhile, Kelsey Mitchell did what Kelsey Mitchell does—dominate. The two-time WNBA All-Star played in all 40 regular season games, averaging a cool 19.2 points on 46.8% shooting. But did that satisfy Swoopes? Nope. She was out here like the WNBA’s version of a conspiracy theorist, claiming that Mitchell’s efforts were somehow overlooked.
“From whom did Mitchell not receive credit? I don’t understand this narrative,” one X (formerly Twitter) user fired back. “Fans and media heads constantly pointed to the key contributions of Mitchell and how we desperately need to retain her. Constant BS all the time.”
But Swoopes wasn’t done. Oh no, she’s going full throttle with her tampering tour. In her latest commentary, fans couldn’t help but feel like Swoopes was throwing shade at the Fever to stir the pot, whether intentional or not. And as free agency looms large, everyone’s watching where Mitchell will land. Will she stay with Indiana? Or will she take her talents elsewhere?
Who knows, but if Swoopes keeps chiming in, we might just need to pop some popcorn and enjoy the drama unfold. After all, she sure knows how to keep the headlines coming.
