Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell was hospitalized due to lower body cramps after exiting Tuesday’s Game 5 semifinals matchup against the Aces in the third quarter and being ruled out, according to Indiana head coach Stephanie White.
“She’s got a lot of lower-body cramping,” an emotional White said in her postgame press conference Tuesday night, adding that Mitchell was at the hospital getting fluids.
“Unfortunately, we have a lot of experience in rallying around teammates and this group is all heart, man. It’s just really hard to put into words. They’re just special.”
Mitchell was treated for “extreme cramping in her lower body” and released from the hospital Tuesday night, the Fever said on Wednesday. She is expected to make a full recovery under the supervision of the Fever medical staff.
Mitchell, who finished fifth in MVP voting, had 15 points, two rebounds and two assists before she left midway through the third quarter of the Fever’s eventual 107-98 overtime loss to the Aces in the playoff elimination game.
The veteran guard was seen grabbing her leg and appeared to be in pain after a foul was called on her teammate Aliyah Boston.
Mitchell reached out to grab a referee, Isaac Barnett, when she appeared lose her balance.
The 5-foot-8 guard was on the floor being tended to while her teammates and team personnel were holding up towels to shield the scene.
Rebecca Lobo and Ryan Ruocco, who called the game for ESPN, were unsure what had happened, as Mitchell appeared to go down with a non-contact injury.
A stretcher was brought onto the court, but Mitchell walked off the court while assisted after a few minutes.
Mitchell was the Fever’s leading scorer this season, averaging 20.2 points in the regular season and 23.3 in the playoffs.
The Fever secured the No. 6 seed and made their first semifinals since 2015 despite being decimated by injuries heading into the playoffs.
Caitlin Clark — the Fever’s No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft and last year’s WNBA Rookie of the Year — was ruled out for the season in July with a groin injury and bone bruise.
The Fever lost guards Sydney Colson (torn left ACL) and Aari McDonald (broken right foot bone) to season-ending injuries on Aug. 8.
After that, veteran guard Sophie Cunningham suffered a season-ending MCL tear in her right knee in a win over the Sun on Aug. 17.
Indiana center Damiris Dantas missed the team’s playoff run because of a concussion.