The impact of the incident not only shook the team but also raised alarms across the entire league.
Kelsey Mitchell faces fear: the collapse that froze the Fever and stunned the WNBA
Kelsey Mitchell recounted what happened through her social media, exposing the terror she experienced on the court.
She explained that her muscles stopped producing blood properly, which triggered extreme fatigue, cramps, and an unsettling physical disconnection.
A body pushed to the limit and a paralyzing fear
“It was horrible. I panicked because I started thinking the worst when I felt I couldn’t move my legs,” Kelsey Mitchell wrote. “It was an out-of-body experience, and I thank God for protecting me in a moment like that.”
The episode occurred after a play near the rim. Mitchell slowed down and asked referee Isaac Barnett for assistance, and he held her before she fell to the floor. Within seconds, concern took over the arena.
Immediate protection and absolute silence in the arena
Teammates Brianna Turner and Lexie Hull reacted instantly, while members of the Indiana Fever and Las Vegas Aces formed a human barrier with towels to block cameras from capturing the moment.
The scene was so delicate that the silence in the crowd contrasted with the tension on the bench.
Although medical staff offered her a stretcher, Kelsey Mitchell refused and was helped to her feet before being taken to a Las Vegas hospital. There, she received intravenous fluids and was released that same night.
Rhabdomyolysis, though uncommon, can cause anything from muscle damage to kidney complications if not treated in time.
Despite the initial panic, Kelsey Mitchell remains optimistic: “Today I’m walking and moving slowly, but I’ll be fine soon. In other words, I played until I dropped, lol.”
