Kelsey Mitchell tied her career high with 38 points to lift the Indiana Fever to a 99–93 overtime win over the Connecticut Sun on Sunday. The comeback from a 21-point deficit underscored Mitchell’s importance as the guiding force for a team battered by injuries but refusing to break.
The Fever trailed 54–33 in the third quarter and still faced a 74–60 deficit with just over six minutes remaining in regulation. But Mitchell, who had scored only four points at halftime, erupted for 34 after the break. She went 11-of-22 from the field, 5-of-8 from 3-point range, and 11-of-12 from the free throw line, punctuating one of the most memorable single-game performances in franchise history.
Her 38 points marked the WNBA’s single-game scoring high this season and gave her an 11th career 30-point outing, breaking Hall of Famer Tamika Catchings’ franchise record. More importantly, it gave the Fever their 19th win, moving them further into playoff contention despite another night of injury setbacks.
Mitchell’s Takeover After Halftime
Mitchell’s explosion came after a scoreless stretch that saw her begin the game 0-for-7 from the floor. By halftime, she had just four points, and the Fever trailed by double digits.
Head coach Stephanie White said the difference after the break was Mitchell’s determination to stay aggressive.
“She was what, 0-for-7 in the first half and four points and just put us on her back,” White said. “Made big shot after big shot, big play after big play. She didn’t settle. She stayed aggressive and, you know, she willed us.”
Mitchell said the turning point was not about schemes or adjustments but about a shift in mentality.
“I think it was more about what we did from a standpoint of the mindset and the mentality from half to half,” Mitchell said. “It sucked for me first half. It just wasn’t. … But the resiliency is true in our room. Seeing Soph (Cunningham) go down and then knowing what happened with Syd and knowing what happened with Aari (McDonald) and then knowing what happened with CC (Clark), it’s like a lot of it was just God and being able to stay prepared and stay in your mental state to compete. I really think that’s the most resilient we’ve ever been.”
In overtime, Mitchell accounted for Indiana’s first 10 points, hitting back-to-back threes and driving for free throws before Lexie Hull buried a corner triple with 44.9 seconds remaining to give the Fever a 97–90 lead.
They aren’t saying her name enough but Kelsey Mitchell is a DAWG! pic.twitter.com/1TLvnSmfxi
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) August 17, 2025
Adversity Fuels the Fever
The Fever faced another blow when Sophie Cunningham exited in the second quarter with a knee injury. Already missing Caitlin Clark for the 13th straight game and losing Aari McDonald and Sydney Colson to season-ending injuries, Indiana had to regroup. Mitchell admitted it felt like “deja vu.”
“I felt like it was deja vu, man, to be honest,” she said. “Seeing S go down, it fuels you, man. If you care about your team and the people in your locker room, it fuels who we are as people. And y’all get to see it as a team for us.”
Boston said the locker room message was simple.
“When we came in at halftime, we talked about one, chipping away. Being resilient. That’s kind of been our story this entire season,” Boston said. “We’re down 21 and we come back and we play. And I think what stands out the most is just everyone coming in and affecting the game the way they did.”
White emphasized that the group stayed connected instead of fracturing.
“When Sophie went down, it was another blow, right? Another gut punch,” White said. “Fortunately, we were able to come in at halftime and regroup and re-emphasize that we have enough. And that starts on the defensive end.”
that’s our MVP 🌟
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) August 17, 2025
Kelsey Mitchell has passed Tamika Catchings for the most career games with 30+ points in franchise history with 11. pic.twitter.com/H34z6rx6Xd
Boston, Sims and Howard Deliver
Aliyah Boston delivered her typical all-around production with 14 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and two blocks. She also gave Mitchell her due on a night that showcased her as one of the league’s most valuable players.
“When you look at Kelsey’s play and what she means to the squad, I think it kind of speaks for her case in general,” Boston said. “She comes out, she defends. She scores the ball, she plays 40 minutes a game, and she still consistently puts up these numbers. If she’s not MVP, shoot, MVP is crazy.”
Odyssey Sims, only three games into her Fever tenure, finished with 19 points and seven assists. Mitchell said Sims’ aggressiveness has made an immediate impact.
“Yeah, I think O’s mindset is the first thing,” Mitchell said. “Ever since she stepped foot with us, it’s been questioned. She’s been eager. … We know why you’re here. You know how to score the ball. You know how to defend. Be you. And I think today was a great game for that. She really just embraced it. She got downhill, got to the free throw line, and really just dominated and her presence was felt.”
Natasha Howard also chipped in 18 points and nine rebounds as Indiana moved to 19–16 on the season.
Togetherness Defines the Fever
Mitchell said the defining theme of the group is summed up in one word they repeat in every huddle.
“Every day in our huddle, that’s what we say: together. And it’s just more than words for us,” Mitchell said. “If you spread apart, the season goes down quicker than anything else. We come in the locker room and we’re motivated. Chip away, chip away. That’s our mindset. And just continue to uplift people. When one person goes down, we say it all the time, the next woman stands up. And that’s what we’re just going to continue to do.”
For Mitchell, the joy of competition underscored the victory.
“I just love to compete. I love basketball that much and I think basketball saved a lot of our lives,” she said. “The fuel of the moment was perfect for us because we needed it. That fueled energy from our group is special. No one can break it.”
What’s Next
The Sun, led by Marina Mabrey’s 27 points and Tina Charles’ 21, dropped to 6–27. Rookie Leïla Lacan handed out a season-high 14 assists, while Saniya Rivers blocked five shots.
Indiana hosts Minnesota on Friday to open a home-and-home against the league-leading Lynx.
