‘Til my wheels fell off’: Kelsey Mitchell reveals injury diagnosis after scary Game 5 exit
Kelsey Mitchell was diagnosed with Rhabdomyolysis, which led to her early exit in Game 5 of the Fever’s Game 5 loss to Las Vegas Aces. She's expected to make a full recovery.
LAS VEGAS — Kelsey Mitchell exited Game 5 of the Indiana Fever’s semifinal matchup with the Las Vegas Aces with 5:05 left in the third quarter and did not return.
She was transported to a local hospital and given IV fluids after experiencing severe cramping in her lower body caused by Rhabdomyolysis — a rare and serious condition in which muscle tissue breaks down so extensively that it releases harmful substances into the bloodstream.
The condition requires immediate medical attention.
Without her, the Fever still pushed the game into overtime before falling 107–98.
The postgame locker room carried a mix of emotions: disappointment in the loss, frustration that Mitchell and Aliyah Boston (who fouled out) were unable to finish the game, and sadness knowing this was the final time this roster would be together. The team posed for a group photo in the locker room — but Mitchell, an MVP finalist who just completed a career season, was not present.
She was released from the hospital late Tuesday night.
On Wednesday morning, further updates were provided.
At 11:20 a.m. ET, Fever PR issued a statement:
On Tuesday night, Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell experienced extreme cramping in her lower body during the third quarter of the Fever’s game at Las Vegas.
Mitchell was transported to a local hospital, where she was treated and released late Tuesday night. Mitchell will remain under the supervision of the Fever medical team and is expected to make a full recovery.
Then, at 2:53 p.m. ET, Mitchell shared a more detailed personal update on social media while the team flew back to Indianapolis:
to the fever fans and fans of KelzHoop:
me letting you all know about my health is just me showing love and respect to those who showed it to me (love)
i suffered from something called Rhabdomyolysis last night. my muscles stopped producing and reached it’s maximum capacity. i went into a sense of numbness/ paralyzing feeling with no movement from my lower extremities for up to 5 to 7 seconds. because my muscles stopped producing positive blood to my bloodstream, my body locked up from a physical standpoint and from there fatigue and cramping settled in. it sucked. i panicked because i began to think the worse when i felt like i couldn’t move my legs. it was an out of body
experience for me and i thank God for covering me at a time like that.
so today on Oct. 1, i am walking and moving at a slow pace, but i will be fine very soon. i want to thank the Fever medical team, Vegas medical team, and the staff at the local hospital for keeping me safe.
in other words, i played literally til my wheels fell off, lmao.
THANK you for the prayers, love, respect, and support throughout all of this. if you rode with me through this journey, then i love you!
0, out
It was a frightening sequence. One possession earlier, Mitchell had attacked off the dribble and buried a 3-pointer. The next, after using a screen from Boston, she suddenly collapsed to the floor after the whistle had blown. She braced her fall by holding on to a game official.
This season has taken both a physical and mental toll on Mitchell and the Fever. She started every game and literally sacrificed her body, playing until it gave out.
“I played literally ‘til my wheels fell off,” she wrote. And she was spectacular all season.
Dr. Brian Sutterer, a physician who often explains sports injuries online, offered further context:
This is one of the few sports medicine emergencies. Left untreated it can (and has before) lead to kidney failure and death.
Job well done to recognize it and get her prompt treatment (loads of IV fluids to help the kidneys remove the muscle protein that has broken down). Had the team won she almost certainly would have been out for the finals while letting her kidneys normalize and doing a gradual return to play.
We should hear directly from Mitchell on Thursday morning. The Fever are scheduled to hold exit interviews with six players, along with general manager Amber Cox and head coach Stephanie White.
It will also mark Caitlin Clark’s first media availability since July 19 at All-Star Weekend. Others slated to speak include Boston, Sophie Cunningham, Natasha Howard, and Lexie Hull.