NBA Legendary player Michael Jordan Hails Kelsey Mitchell’s Heroics as Fever Storm into WNBA Semifinals..
In a moment that bridged basketball eras, NBA icon Michael Jordan emerged from his Charlotte Hornets ownership perch to shower praise on WNBA sharpshooter Kelsey Mitchell, crediting her unyielding grit for propelling the Indiana Fever into the league semifinals. The six-time champion’s endorsement came swiftly after the Fever’s nail-biting 87-85 Game 3 triumph over the Atlanta Dream on Thursday, marking Indiana’s first semifinal berth since 2015 and igniting feverish dreams of a championship run.
Jordan, no stranger to clutch performances, watched the drama unfold from afar and wasted no time voicing his admiration. “Kelsey’s got that fire—the kind that turns pressure into poetry,” he posted on X late Friday, a rare public nod from the reclusive legend. “She’s carrying her team like I carried mine in ’93. Resilience like that? That’s championship DNA. Proud to see the women’s game shining this bright.” The message, liked over 500,000 times within hours, amplified the buzz around Mitchell, the 29-year-old Ohio State alum who’s rewritten her narrative this season.
The Fever’s path to the semis was anything but smooth, a testament to Mitchell’s iron will amid a campaign plagued by injuries. With rookie sensation Caitlin Clark sidelined early by a nagging ankle sprain and fellow guard Lexie Hull battling foul trouble throughout the playoffs, Mitchell shouldered an impossible load. Averaging a career-high 20.2 points per game during the regular season—second in the WNBA—she shattered franchise records, sinking 111 three-pointers to lead the league and eclipsing Tamika Catchings’ 20-year-old scoring mark.
The first-round series against Atlanta encapsulated her heroism. Down 0-1 after a gritty 80-68 loss, Mitchell exploded for 27 points in Game 2, draining four triples en route to a 77-60 rout that forced a decisive third game in Georgia. But Game 3 was her masterpiece: 24 points on 7-of-16 shooting, including a dagger three that sliced Atlanta’s lead to one with 2:05 left. As the Dream clung to a 85-80 edge, Mitchell’s hustle sparked a game-sealing 7-0 run. She dove for a loose ball, spun past Allisha Gray, and fed Odyssey Sims for the assist that set up Aliyah Boston’s go-ahead layup with 7.4 seconds remaining. “Kelsey puts us on her back a lot,” beamed head coach Stephanie White postgame, her words drawing grins from Mitchell and forward Natasha Howard. “She’s the heart of this beast.”
This isn’t Mitchell’s first brush with adversity. Drafted second overall in 2018, she’s endured eight seasons of Fever futility—coaching carousel spins, heartbreaking near-misses, and a lone playoff cameo in 2024 that ended in a whimper. “Six years without the postseason? That demon haunted me,” Mitchell admitted in a tearful sideline interview after the clincher. “But this squad? We’re resilient. No Clark, no problem—we fought for every inch.” Her All-WNBA First Team nod earlier this month underscored a breakout year, where she logged 1,381 minutes across 44 starts, guiding Indiana to 24 wins and a No. 6 seed.
Jordan’s praise resonates deeply in Indy, where Mitchell’s Buckeye-to-pro arc mirrors his own Tar Heel tenacity. As the Fever jet to Las Vegas for a semifinal clash with the Aces—potentially facing A’ja Wilson in a star-studded showdown—MJ’s words fuel the fire. “Michael Jordan sees something in me,” Mitchell reflected Saturday. “That means we’re doing it right. This is for every girl who ever got overlooked.”
With Boston adding 18 points and 12 rebounds in the series-clincher, and veteran Howard providing timely buckets, the Fever embody collective steel. As Gainbridge Fieldhouse faithful chant “KM0!” into the night, one thing’s clear: Kelsey Mitchell isn’t just a scorer anymore. She’s a legend in the making, blessed by the GOAT himself.
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