Kelsey Mitchell might be wavering on an overseas commitment due to the major improvement in the WNBA salary structure.
But the upstart Project B told Front Office Sports on Thursday that the Indiana Fever star is still committed to the global touring league that will begin play in December.
Mitchell signed a one year, $1.4 million deal with Indiana earlier this month. On Wednesday, she told reporters at the Fever’s media day that it would take a “drastic, unique situation” for her to play overseas during the WNBA offseason.
“Where I’m at in my career now, I’d rather play it smart,” Mitchell said. “Make sure my body is what it needs to be. And then also, respecting my craft. I feel like sometimes when you go overseas, you lose sight on some of the perfecting of the skills that you miss out on just because you’re going to try to make a couple dollars.
“I got a soul so I’d rather make sure that I’m right before I want to keep going overseas and missing out on a lot.”
Mitchell, 30, is entering her ninth WNBA season. She is a three-time All-Star and averaged a career-high 20.2 points last season and finished fifth in the MVP balloting.
Mitchell has routinely played overseas during her stellar career. But last season, she stayed in the United States and played for Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 league founded by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart.
“That was good basketball, and it’s in the United States, so I can’t really complain,” Mitchell said.
She is one of 13 players who were announced as players for Project B, which will play in various countries. The last stop is slated to be Tokyo from March 26-April 4.
Nneka Ogwumike, Alyssa Thomas and Sophie Cunningham are among the other WNBA players who have pledged to play in the league.
–Field Level Media
