Sophie Cunningham praised Kelsey Mitchell for balancing a Ph.D. program with a career season as the Fever prepare for Game 2 against the Aces.
Kelsey Mitchell is having a career season while balancing a Ph.D. program, and the Indiana Fever are down 0-1 to the Las Vegas Aces.
The Fever lost 102-85 to the Aces in Game 1 of the WNBA playoffs, and the team will be without guard Ty Harris for the postseason after she broke her leg in the team's regular-season finale.
Mitchell finished Game 1 with 12 points, three assists, and one steal. Despite the loss, guard Sophie Cunningham spoke about Mitchell balancing school and basketball during a career season.
"If this is how she's going to play while trying to get a Ph.D., she needs to get multiple. Keep lining them up, sister," Cunningham said, via ESPN's Kendra Andrews.
Mitchell is 18 months into her program and is in her ninth season in the WNBA.
Mitchell Balancing Career Season With Ph.D. Program
Mitchell is currently studying for her Ph.D. in educational leadership at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. She is expected to graduate in 2028, and while she is in the program, she is having a career year.
The Fever guard is averaging a career-high 24.7 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists while shooting 45% from 3-point range and 50.9% from the field. She has been with the franchise since being drafted in 2018.
Mitchell is second in scoring behind Aces forward A'ja Wilson at 26.2 points per game, but she also leads the league in 3-pointers made with 135 and 3-point percentage at 45%.
The Ohio State product and the Fever will have a chance to even the series as it shifts to Indiana, but the absence of Harris may impact the team's overall production.
This season, the 5-foot-8 guard played all 44 regular-season games despite overheating during one game in August. No matter the obstacles around the team, Mitchell has continued to produce.
Fever Look to Even Series Against Aces
In Game 1, Wilson dominated with 38 points on 15-of-19 shooting while grabbing 16 rebounds, four blocks, and two assists.
Guards Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray added 21 and 14 points, respectively.
On the other side, forward Aliyah Boston led Indiana with 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting, but she struggled to find a rhythm at times because of foul trouble.
Guards Caitlin Clark (15), Raven Johnson (14), Cunningham (13), and Mitchell (12) also scored in double figures.
However, the Aces' defense helped contain Mitchell, who accounts for a significant portion of the Fever's offense.
Game 2 of the WNBA playoff series between the Aces and Fever will start at 6:30 p.m. EST on Amazon Prime.
