Christie Sides in Hot Seat After Kelsey Mitchell Exits Fever-Mystics Game

The Indiana Fever entered their regular season finale agains the Washington Mystics having already secured the No. 6 seed in the playoffs. Whether they win or lose on September 19, their postseason position is locked.

Before tipoff, Fever head coach Christie Sides appeared unsure of the right path to take with the team's key starters in a non-consequential game against Washington. While Sides said she'd be "cautious" with their minutes, she also didn't want to ruin the team's momentum.

"I don't have a single starter who's ever played in a playoff game," Sides said. "We're all trying to figure out what we need."

The Fever went with their usual starters on Thursday, and went off on an 11-0 run. However, before the first quarter came to close, Kelsey Mitchell, the team's No. 1 scorer, was slow to get up after colliding with a Mystics player.

Mitchell, who initially appeared to injure her ankle, stayed in the game and tried to shake it off before heading to locker room with athletic trainer Todd Champlin. The two-time All-Star eventually returned the bench with a brace on her left knee.

One person posted , "So Kelsey Mitchell has a [sic] injury and now won’t be 100% for the playoffs and for what? A few meaningless minutes against the Mystics? This is the most egregious thing Sides has done all season." Another person replied , "I hope this is the straw that breaks the camels back and she gets fired."

Several fans begged for Sides to sit Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston, as well. One woman posted , "why are the indiana fever starters playing in a meaningless game against washington when playoffs start in a couple of days? i hope kelsey mitchell is okay."

At the half, Mitchell jogged out to meet with her teammates without a knee brace, however, Erica Wheeler took over her spot to start the third quarter. Thankfully, the roster switch appeared to be cautionary. Assistant Jhared Simpson told Amazon Prime's broadcast during the quarter, "Oh, [Mitchell]'s fine. She's a warrior."

Fever fans were still not happy. One person wrote , "Christie sides is the worst coach in the W. I really have no idea what she was trying to do. She almost injured Kelsey Mitchell and she played starters in a meaningless game."

The Fever's first playoff game is on Sunday, September 22.

Related: Caitlin Clark Sends Strong Message on Fever's First-Round Playoff Opponent