Indiana’s Kelsey Mitchell stepped in as a last-minute replacement for her Fever teammate Erica Wheeler in the WNBA All Star Skills Challenge competition.
Wheeler was unable to make it to Phoenix due to a faulty software update causing travel disruptions worldwide on Friday.
The Fever guard was en route from Atlanta to Phoenix when her flight was delayed and eventually canceled. She mentioned in a tweet that Pacers CEO Mel Raines tried to arrange a charter flight for her to the All Star events, but no options were available on short notice.
RELATED STORY | Caitlin Clark sets WNBA record in final game before first All-Star appearance
Mitchell is a first-time participant in the skills challenge, having competed in the 3-point contest last year. She will be joining Phoenix’s Brittney Griner and Sophie Cunningham, Connecticut’s Marina Mabrey, and Atlanta’s Allisha Gray in the event.
“I’m excited about it,” Mitchell expressed. “I don’t know how I’ll measure up to Erica, but I’ll make sure to represent the Fever organization well, aim to win this competition, and simply enjoy the experience.”
The winner of the contest will receive $2,575 from the league, as per the Collective Bargaining Agreement, in addition to $55,000 from Aflac through their partnership with the WNBA.
