Candace Parker has a prediction for Indiana Fever fans, and they probably aren't going to like it. Parker, who retired from the WNBA ahead of the 2024 season, recently said she believes Kelsey Mitchell will make the move to the Golden State Valkyries after free agency has concluded.
Parker, who has a history of making bold (and accurate) claims about the league, made the call in a video shared on Instagram by BRW Sports.
The Fever offered Mitchell a core player designation, a move that means the team (or whoever recruits her) will have to pay the 5'11" guard the supermax to retain her. If she moves to a new team, the Fever will likely arrange a deal that will include current and future draft picks, players, or money.
Joining the Valkyries offers Mitchell a unique opportunity
Though there has been no indication from Mitchell about her plans, joining the Golden State Valkyries would give her the chance to become the face of a brand new franchise, something few players get to experience. This could be exactly what she needs, especially after the unexpected loss of her father last year.
The only potential drawback for Mitchell, the second overall pick in the 2018 WNBA draft, might be that she's spent 7 years with the Fever and is closer than ever to bringing home a championship to Indianapolis. Despite Golden State owner Joe Lacob's stated goal of a championship within 5 years, it's not clear if Mitchell would be willing to wait that long.
The death of Kelsey Mitchell's dad changed something for her
In an essay she wrote for the Player's Tribune in November, Mitchell wrote about the impact her father's life and death had on her and how she's shifted the way she's thinking of her own future and goals. "I love my mama like no other, but the love of hoop my Dad and I shared was just a tad bit different," Mitchell explained. "I’ve always been a daddy’s girl and loved my dad to the core."
"When I look back at my journey with the Fever, from 2018 to now, and everything I went through, I feel like it was just supposed to happen this way. And it’s hard to know what the future holds. I’ll be honest, I don’t know what colors I’ll be wearing next year," Mitchell wrote. "I've never been through free agency, so I’m looking forward to the opportunity to explore that for the first time in my career and have a say in my future as a basketball player."