Skip Bayless makes bold Kelsey Mitchell claim after 37-point outburst originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Indiana Fever’s five-game winning streak ended Thursday night, but Kelsey Mitchell’s remarkable scoring run did not. Mitchell poured in 37 points during Indiana’s 91-85 road loss to the Dallas Wings. Her performance featured nearly every element of an elite offensive repertoire: 3-point shooting, drives, contact finishes and flawless work at the free-throw line.
That versatility caught the attention of Skip Bayless, who offered a sweeping assessment of Mitchell’s place among the WNBA’s best scorers.
“Kelsey Mitchell as a scorer has the WNBA’s deepest bag. 21 in the first half!” Bayless wrote on X.
Mitchell gives Bayless plenty of evidenceMitchell finished 9-of-18 from the field and 4-of-7 from beyond the arc. She also made all 15 of her free throws, preventing Dallas from slowing her even when its defenders kept her from getting a clean shot. Her 21 first-half points extended her streak of games with at least 20 points to 21, breaking the WNBA record she previously shared with Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson.
Kelsey Mitchell as a scorer has the WNBA's deepest bag. 21 in the first half!
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) August 21, 2026Mitchell also broke her own Fever record for points in a season. She entered the game averaging 24.3 points while shooting 50.7% from the floor and 44.3% from 3-point range. Those percentages help explain Bayless’ argument. Mitchell is not piling up points through volume alone. She is scoring at an exceptional rate while remaining efficient from nearly every area of the court.
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Bayless is not the only prominent observer impressed by Mitchell’s offensive range. Wings star Paige Bueckers previously named Mitchell as the most difficult player to guard in the league. Bueckers pointed to Mitchell’s speed, unpredictability, shooting ability and creativity.
“Right now, I’d probably say Kelsey Mitchell,” Bueckers said when asked about her toughest defensive assignment. “Because she’s so unpredictable. She’s fast, twitchy, extremely quick, can also shoot.”
Mitchell displayed all of those qualities Thursday. Dallas knew she was Indiana’s primary threat after her 21-point first half, yet Mitchell still added 16 points after the break. The Wings eventually secured the victory, but their defense never found a reliable answer for her.
The loss prevented Mitchell’s night from becoming a complete celebration. It did not weaken the larger case being made by Bayless and Bueckers.
A “deep bag” is basketball shorthand for an extensive collection of scoring moves. After producing 37 points in multiple ways while setting two records, Mitchell offered a convincing definition.
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