The young Indiana Fever might be on the verge of losing its only veteran. Usually led by the trio of Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, and NaLyssa Smith, Kelsey Mitchell provides much-needed support and brings experience to the team. But after a rollercoaster year both on and off the court, Mitchell might be ready to say goodbye to Indy. However, Fever General Manager Lin Dunn is not ready to let her go that easily.

Mitchell is now an unrestricted free agent with no concrete news of re-signing with Indiana just yet. But speaking in a radio interview on 107.5 The Fan, Dunn revealed that keeping Mitchell is the team’s “biggest offseason priority.” And it will be established by someone who’s coming back to the team after a seven-year hiatus herself – Kelly Krauskopf.

Krauskopf had served as the Fever’s general manager between 2000 and 2017, then moved to the NBA side of things, becoming an assistant GM with the Pacers. Last month, the Fever announced that she would be coming back to the W as the team’s new president of basketball and business operations. “Kelly will now be in charge of the business side and the basketball side, and she will be making the decisions,” Dunn said on the radio show on Wednesday. “She will be negotiating with Kelsey and her agents, and I can assure you we’ll do everything we can to keep her.”

Another thing the Fever might have to worry about is the Golden State Valkyries, to whom all W teams will have to expose half their rosters. If they don’t re-sign with Mitchell soon, the new expansion team might snatch her up.

The problem is, does Mitchell want to stay in Indiana? After her dad suddenly passed away in March this year, the Fever Guard’s season was put on hold for a while. Although she came back, Mitchell revealed in her exit interview, “I think right now, the switching dynamic of my family and everything, you know, I gotta do what’s best for me. I got to be selfish about that process. When I know, you’ll know.”

The Fever had a brilliant season and saw their first playoffs since 2016, a first for Kelsey Mitchell as well, despite it being her seventh year as a pro. Now, whether she stays or leaves, one thing the 28-year-old can be sure about is this – her teammates in Indiana will always have her back.

Caitlin Clark and Co. shower love on Kelsey Mitchell

Part of the 2024 WNBA All-Star team, Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark have grown as teammates and friends on the same team. When the veteran guard posted on Instagram about going through a hard time, she captioned it, “I got low. Shedded tears nobody saw. Got my back dirty just to make it. Threw all my cards on the table. Trusted GOD to save myself. Guaranteed my best. Willing and able, forever dying on my own sword.”

Her teammates were among some of the top commenters. CC wrote, “Proud of ya.” Part of Erica Wheeler’s comment read, “Thank you for allowing me in dawg! ❤️ You one h— of a human! Pops proud of you!” Meanwhile, Aliyah Boston called her “the best leader.”

The Indiana Fever knows they have to keep their talented veteran. They can’t give her up to free agency or the Valkyries. But at the end of the day, the decision will lie with Kelsey Mitchell herself. And those who love and support her will agree with whatever choice she makes.