Fever Designate Kelsey Mitchell as Core Player in WNBA Free Agency

Indiana star guard reveals rare muscle condition after playoff exit

Apr. 8, 2026 at 12:14am

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a WNBA basketball game, with the players and court broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in a palette of bold blues, oranges, and silvers, conceptually representing the challenges and complexities of player health in the league.A rare medical condition suffered by star guard Kelsey Mitchell during the playoffs raises concerns about player health and safety in the WNBA.Las Vegas Today

Indiana Fever star Kelsey Mitchell has been designated as a core player by the team as the WNBA free agency period begins. Mitchell revealed that she suffered from a rare muscle condition called rhabdomyolysis during the Fever's playoff loss to the Las Vegas Aces last season.

Why it matters

The core designation means the Fever have prioritized re-signing Mitchell, one of the league's top young guards, as she enters free agency. Mitchell's rare medical condition also raises questions about player health and safety in the WNBA.

The details

Mitchell, a first-team All-WNBA selection last season, was sidelined with rhabdomyolysis, a serious condition that can lead to kidney damage, after the Fever's Game 1 loss to the Aces in the opening round of the playoffs. The core designation gives the Fever exclusive negotiating rights with Mitchell as she hits free agency.

  • Mitchell suffered the rare muscle condition during the Fever's playoff loss to the Aces on August 17, 2025.
  • The WNBA free agency period began on April 1, 2026.

The players

Kelsey Mitchell

A star guard for the Indiana Fever who was named first-team All-WNBA in 2025.

Las Vegas Aces

The WNBA team that defeated the Indiana Fever in the 2025 playoffs.

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What’s next

The Fever will have exclusive negotiating rights with Kelsey Mitchell as a core player, with the goal of re-signing her before the start of the 2026 WNBA season.

The takeaway

Mitchell's rare medical condition during the playoffs raises concerns about player health and safety in the WNBA, even as the Fever prioritize re-signing one of the league's top young stars.