The Indiana Fever fell in Game 3 of the 2026 WNBA playoffs' first round on Thursday night to the Las Vegas Aces, immediately putting the team's future in full view.
Could this have been superstar guard Kelsey Mitchell's last game with the Fever?
Mitchell will reach free agency in 2027 as one of the marquee names available alongside Minnesota Lynx superstar forward Napheesa Collier and Las Vegas Aces superstar guard Jackie Young.
The Fever have the available cap space to re-sign her in the offseason to a multi-year extension, but it's possible Indiana may reconfigure its roster after a disappointing 2026 season on defense.
Having both Clark and Mitchell on the court can make things tricky defensively. To win a title, the Fever may need to invest
big money in a two-way starter who can defend as well as they can score. Mitchell is one of the best offensive players in the WNBA, but her and Clark's defensive gaps could influence the Fever to let her walk.
It'd be heartbreaking for Fever fans to see Mitchell play elsewhere, but it's the kind of tough move that teams sometimes must make to reach their ceiling. However, it's just as likely that Mitchell returns to Indiana in 2027.
Will Mitchell win 2026's MVP award?
The award will most likely go to Aces superstar A'ja Wilson.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Did Kelsey Mitchell just play her last game with the Fever?
