Kelsey Mitchell’s path to the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game embodies the dramatic transformation of the Indiana Fever franchise and their fan base. From playing in arenas with sparse crowds during the 2022 season to now headlining a sold-out event in Indianapolis, Mitchell’s resilience and talent have been central to the team’s revival and growing popularity.
The Fever’s 2022 season was historically difficult, finishing with a franchise-worst 5-31 record and drawing attendance numbers so low that fewer than 1,000 fans appeared at one home game. That year, half their home games were held at Corteva Coliseum, an arena on the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis that sits just steps away from a swine barn. Although it serves as a basketball venue, it rarely felt like a true basketball arena during those challenging times.
Kelsey Mitchell’s Leadership During the Team’s Struggles
Despite the tough environment, Mitchell emerged as a leader, carrying the team through its darkest period. Alongside Lexie Hull, she remains one of just two current Fever members from that season. While Hull was still adjusting as a rookie, Mitchell led the squad in minutes, points, assists, and steals, showing remarkable dedication amid adversity.
“You had to be here to experience it, and I’m glad a lot of people wasn’t because it made me stronger as a person and as a hooper,”
Mitchell reflected on those challenging times.
“Like that experience I got my first four or five years when nobody came and nobody knew who the Fever was…I’m grateful for the opportunity because it gave me an opportunity to be my best version of myself.”
—Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever guard
That perseverance has paid off this season. Mitchell is averaging a career-high 19.3 points per game while serving as a key playmaker with 2.8 assists per contest. Although her efficiency has slightly dipped from last year’s peak, her overall impact remains significant and continues to garner league-wide recognition.
The Significance of the All-Star Selection for Mitchell and the Fever
For the third consecutive year, Mitchell was selected as a WNBA All-Star, joining teammates Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston to form a powerful trio representing Indiana. This marks the second straight season these three Fever stars have earned midseason honors together, highlighting the team’s rising profile.
“It’s a big opportunity, personally, for myself and my family, but I think for the organization and where it’s going,”
Mitchell said about her All-Star nod.
“I think now we know things are big for the city and for the state, and for us to represent, play well enough to be called All-Stars, I think I’m grateful.”
—Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever guard
While Mitchell’s statistics this season echo those from 2022, the atmosphere surrounding the Fever is dramatically different. Attendance has surged from a few hundred to consistently drawing crowds in the tens of thousands, creating one of the league’s most vibrant and energetic home environments.
From Sparse Crowds to Sold-Out Arenas in Indianapolis
The Fever now play exclusively at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, a venue that routinely fills with more than 16,000 fans per game. This season, their matchup against the Dallas Wings at the American Airlines Center drew an impressive 20,409 spectators. Over the past two seasons, the Fever have hosted four games with attendance exceeding 20,000—an achievement that’s rare in WNBA history.
Across Mitchell’s first six years in the league, the Fever struggled both on the court and in the stands. Their overall record was a dismal 49-149, and they consistently ranked in the bottom half of the league in home attendance, not counting 2021 when the pandemic prohibited fans. Despite these obstacles, Mitchell’s production and growth never wavered.
Caitlin Clark Highlights Mitchell’s Impact on and off the Court
Fellow All-Star Caitlin Clark praised Mitchell’s contributions to the franchise, emphasizing her character and perseverance throughout the tough years of the team’s rebuilding phase.
“She’s just such a great person and has a great heart and has been through a lot with this franchise,”
Clark said.
“[She] has had some really, really tough years as a team here and everybody that knows Kels and has followed her career, she’s always been a bucket getter. She’s always been a tremendous player, and she’s been a huge part of our success over the last couple of years.
“So for her to have this opportunity and to play an All-Star game in front of this type of crowd that we’re going to have…I feel like it’s going to be a little bit full circle for her.”
—Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever guard
The support of Indianapolis fans and the excitement around the Fever have created a unique setting for Mitchell’s All-Star appearance, adding a deeper meaning to the event beyond personal achievement.
Indianapolis’s Role in Elevating the Fever and WNBA
Indianapolis’s growing enthusiasm for the Fever reflects broader changes within the city and the league. Hosting the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse symbolizes this rise, offering home fans the opportunity to witness one of the team’s longest-serving players, Mitchell, celebrate her career highlighting a dramatic turnaround.
“I’ve had a one hell of a career, and no one could tell me how it was and how it wasn’t,”
Mitchell remarked.
“So I can stand on business and say I knew what it was like when nobody was in here and now I know what it’s like when people are. It just goes to show…where the game is going and so you appreciate what it is now.”
—Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever guard
Mitchell’s journey from quiet arenas to packed stadiums underscores her resilience and dedication, and it also signals a hopeful future for both the Fever and women’s basketball in Indiana.