‘So unlucky’: Mitchell hospitalized, Boston fouls out as Fever’s resilient run busts in OT
Down two All-Stars in crunch time, Indiana pushed the Aces to OT before coming up short in Game 5 — an all-too-familiar scenario that reflected their season-long grit.
LAS VEGAS — When the Indiana Fever lined up for overtime of their winner-take-all Game 5 on Tuesday night, their five included two guards signed to hardship contracts in August and just one starter from opening night.
For the final five minutes of their season, Indiana had eight players unavailable. Las Vegas, meanwhile, didn’t have a single name on its injury report.
Caitlin Clark and cast of five others remained out, but All-Star center Aliyah Boston fouled out and All-Star guard Kelsey Mitchell was at the hospital getting fluids for “a lot of lower-body cramping,” head coach Stephanie White shared postgame.
“Unfortunately, we have a lot of experience in rallying around teammates. And this group is all heart, man. Like, it’s just really hard to put into words. They’re just special.”
Still, the 6-seeded Fever would not quit. They refused to roll over and give in.
Instead, White said, “I thought we continued to give. I think they made really tough plays, championship plays. And that was it.”
This game was a microcosm of their 2025 season. Despite having the most unusual set of circumstances, like a separate roster of players unavailable to conclude their most important game of the season, Indiana was within three points with 22.6 seconds left in overtime. But the Aces hit a couple big shots, including three 3s in a row to begin the extra session, then went 8 for 8 at the foul line to finish the game and the Fever’s season.
The injury-depleted Fever were outscored 21-12 in overtime for a 107-98 loss.
In their 53rd game over the last four and a half months, the Indiana Fever squeezed every possible ounce out of each individual with their season on the line.
Then in the locker room postgame, White was in tears as she told this group of 16 players how proud of them she was. It was a moment she’s been dreading for several weeks because it marks the final time this group would be together.
“They have been an absolute joy to coach,” White said. “It’s an incredible group of women, an incredibly connected group. They’re a great example to everybody what it means to just put one foot in front of the other, to persevere, to welcome people into the game, to welcome people into the fold, to not give in to circumstance, to lead with grace and dignity, to sacrifice for a greater good and a common good. I’m just so thankful to coach these women and I’m just thankful for this experience with them.”
Down Goes Mitchell
Once again, this was a battle. It was a prizefight that featured 16 ties and 13 lead changes. At halftime, with the Aces leading 47-45, neither team had led by more than five points.
So much changed for the Fever, however, with 5:05 left in third.
Trailing by four, Boston was whistled for an offensive foul as she completed a dribble hand-off to Mitchell. It was her fifth foul, thus costing Boston valuable time on the court.
During that stoppage, Mitchell’s legs looked wobbly and she reached for game official Isaac Barnett as she lost her balance and slowly dropped to the floor. With it happening on the baseline in front of the Aces’ bench, several opposing players raced over to hold up white towels to give Mitchell privacy.
Just one possession earlier, Mitchell pushed the ball in transition and knocked down a 3-pointer from straight on. She contributed 15 points in 23 minutes.
Boston joined the training staff on the court, got down on her knees for several minutes to be there for her teammate for the past three seasons.
“Honestly, I felt like I got just kind of emotional seeing her down there,” Boston shared postgame. “But for me, just trying to keep her calm, getting her slow breaths. And once she walked off the court, it was time to just focus on rallying around her and making sure that I’m focused for when it was my time to go back in.”
Mitchell was then helped to her feet, appeared to decline a stretcher and then a wheelchair as she slowly walked off with the assistance of the team’s athletic training staff. Many Aces players wished her well. And then there were several individuals with Mitchell jerseys with her in the tunnel, likely family, able to be there for her when she needed it.
Mitchell has had a healthy career, so this was a new experience for her. She’s a tough, selfless warrior who played in every game over the last three seasons.
Seven minutes after she was helped off the court, the Fever ruled her out for the game. That’s how intense the cramps must’ve been, sending her to the hospital.
“Prayers for Kelsey Mitchell. That’s my draft partner,” A’ja Wilson said to begin her postgame press conference. “To see her go down like that was not good so I send my prayers out to her. She’s had a phenomenal season and I really hope that the Indiana Fever continue to take care of her because she’s a gem.”
Been Here Before, Too Often
There was still more than 17 minutes of game action to be played, 22 when including the overtime period. No Mitchell, the WNBA’s third-leading scorer, and Boston was in foul trouble.
“We’ve been here before, so it’s just so unlucky,” said Lexie Hull, the only foundational piece of the team who started the game and was available to finish. She, too, gave it everything she could and finished with 12 points, seven rebounds, and three assists in 43 minutes.
“So crazy that that had to happen tonight,” she continued. “And just for us to be able to continue to bounce back and still fight and still close out a game against a great team, for us to be able to put out the performance we did tonight and send it to overtime, that’s something to be proud of.”
Most mic’d-up segments are rah-rah, mostly fruitless content. But other coaches can draw inspiration from not just the job White has done with this team, but also how she had the right message after such an emotional drop.
“I feel like there’s so many games that we’ve had this year where that’s happened — where you just lay it on the line.,” said White, who had to lead the team through choppy waters far too often.
“… Nobody in our locker room had any doubt. And in our huddles, we kept talking about it, that we’re ready for these moments. Vegas, in particular in that overtime, hit a lot of tough shots. And that had to be the goal, make them hit tough shots — and they did.”
After trailing by nine points in the fourth quarter, guard Odyssey Sims helped the Fever stay in the fight. It’s been the right fit and opportunity for Sims, who was out of the league for a month. She showed that she deserves a role in the WNBA.
Sims scored 10 of her team-high 27 points in the fourth, then another four in overtime — mostly off the dribble and in getting to the rim. She went 12 of 13 at the foul line.
With a deck of completely rotten cards, the Fever still believed in each other tied at 86 and headed to overtime.
“We can win,” Hull shared their mindset. “This is a zero-zero game, five minutes. We do those situations in practice. I mean, it took everyone. I mean, O had an incredible night tonight. People just stepped up. And I think when we were starting that overtime, we all five, everyone on the bench, playing or not, we believed in each other and in ourselves.”
The Fever didn’t go down without another memorable fight, with six in double figures and control of the paint. But Wilson posted 35 points and Indiana native Jackie Young finished with 32 points and 10 assists to keep the Aces’ title hopes alive.
“Two of our biggest stars go down and we continue to fight and send it to overtime,” Hull added. “So we’re proud of ourselves, we’re proud of that fight. And it’s just sad. Sad to see this group be done.”
The players huddled up once more at mid-court, then headed back to what had to be an emotional locker room.
“We just talked about how special this group was and how we’re always gonna be connected,” said Boston. “And obviously that’s how I feel, these women became my sisters so quickly. And it was honestly just some of the best basketball I’ve had.”
The players, coaches, and front office then took a photo together to remember this moment in time — and remember this group. Hall of Famer Tamika Catchings made the trip from Indy and joined in.
As much as the Fever (and their loyal fans) have experienced so many highs and lows throughout this roller coaster season, this is one for the memories.
They recorded 24 wins, celebrated the Commissioner’s Cup championship in Minnesota, figured out how to integrate so many new pieces late into the season, earned the 6-seed and won a series, then pushed the Aces to Game 5 in Las Vegas.
With their trio of All-Stars — Clark, Mitchell, and Boston — all unavailable to close the game for different reasons, the Fever went the distance. They put all chips to the center of the table and bet on themselves.
There needs to be a documentary about their season — all that was thrown at them and the resiliency they continued to show all the way to being one of the final three teams standing.
After wrapping up her first season back as Fever head coach, White fought back emotions when summing up the year and the makeup of this group.
“I’ve experienced some special teams in this league, in this organization,” she said. “But collectively, this group has been at the top. So I’m extremely grateful for every single one of them. We know this is gonna be an offseason full of change in the league. But what these women accomplished together, I mean, it’s a special story.
“It’s a special story, and I hope one day it’s told. But I’m so proud and so grateful.”
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