Kelsey Mitchell is still yet to make a WNBA All-Star game, which is ridiculous. She’s one of those players you assume has been an all-star, but then you check the accolades, and it’s not there.
Mitchell ranks fourth in scoring with 19 points per game, on .440/.422/.872 shooting splits. She is averaging a career-high in assists per game, three-point shooting percentage, and free throw percentage. With an effective field goal percentage of 51.6 and a true shooting percentage of 56.9, it’s hard to see how she’s not an All-Star in terms of the numbers.
The only reason she isn’t is because of team success, or lack thereof. That shouldn’t be on her. Imagine the Indiana Fever’s record without her on the team. How many players in the league could be on that roster the last few seasons and really improve the team? Maybe two or three.
The Fever are the only team without an All-Star, while a few have four, and a team like the Liberty has two. A team with just four more wins and still four games under .500 has two All-Stars.
All I’ve heard the last few nights watching games, and seen on social media, is the genuine shock that Kelsey Mitchell didn’t make the All-Star game. Opposing commentators feel she’s been disrespected for years, and It’s true.
She averaged 17 points in back-to-back seasons prior to this year. Sure she could improve on some things, but the negatives can’t be hidden in situations where your team lacks talent. Mitchell may not be the greatest defender, but when you are the primary ball-handler and, at times, the only scorer, you can’t be full throttle, or you’ll get fatigued.
Below is an example of the types of defenses she sees on a nightly basis.
Kelsey Mitchell appreciation post.
Consistently seeing these defensive coverages isn’t easy. pic.twitter.com/jW7DIX1W9j
— Hunter Cruse (@HunterCruse14) July 3, 2022
We know how talented a scorer she is, genuinely one of the league’s top three or four perimeter scorers. No player in the league has more 20-point games. She leads with 14. Also, her playmaking ability has improved due to better talent being around her and being able to set the table for players who can finish.
If she played for the Seattle Storm, Liberty, LAs Vegas Aces, or Connecticut Sun, she’d be an All-Star starter. But since she hasn’t had enough talent around her, she’s been cast aside in terms of recognition.
She didn’t even get invited to the three-point or skills contests. Both of those have her name all over them. The league clearly doesn’t want to acknowledge her at this point.
Kelsey Mitchell deserves better.