There's no way to put it other than bluntly: Kelsey Mitchell is playing with a dislocated finger on her shooting hand, and the Indiana Fever might regret allowing the veteran guard to do so later this season.
Mitchell told reporters she fractured her finger while playing overseas in China this offseason, and showed off the clearly contorted digit while speaking to reporters on May 7. Despite that, both Mitchell and Coach Stephanie White have downplayed the injury. This week Mitchell said the finger is "Probably healing on its own now. Nothing I can really do about it... Obviously, the trainers here have taken care of me to get done with I need to get done. But there's only so much you can do with a semi-fractured finger."
Mitchell added that the injury is typical of "normal stuff athletes go through."
During Friday's press interviews, White also insisted the injury isn't something that would take Mitchell out of the game. "I forget about Kelsey's finger, because she was playing great with it overseas," she told the Indianapolis Star. She added that it seems like Mitchell has adapted to the injury.
"Certainly, her shot is a little funky in the way it releases anyway, and I think she has learned to protect it. So for her, it's like she's efficient, she's effective. Until she complains about it hurting, no concerns," White added.
How Kelsey Mitchell's dislocated finger could impact the Fever's season
As White also said, Mitchell figured out a way to shoot and shoot well while in China, where she had no problem hitting 30 points a game. According to the University of Utah, it can take weeks — or even up to 3 months — for a discloated finger to heal, and that's if the injured person is resting and not using the finger. Mitchell has continued to play basketball since she was injured, which could delay her overall healing.
While the Fever appear confident the injury won't have a negative impact on this season, there's always a risk when athletes opt to play through pain or any kind of trauma to the body. The team has a strong medical staff who will likely monitor Mitchell for swelling or pain, two factors that could impact her performance or her playing time this season. If she doesn't stay on top of it, Mitchell coud lose minutes — or even be off her game.
It's always wise to be cautious when it comes to competition, especially at such an elite level. Odds are Mitchell will be just fine, and will continue to deliver the level of basketball that fans have come to know and expect from her.