Ohio State senior guard Kelsey Mitchell controls the ball during the Big Ten tournament championship game against Maryland on March 4, 2018 in Indianapolis. Ohio State won 79-69. Credit: Alyssia Graves: Assistant Sports Director
No player in the history of the Ohio State women’s basketball program has scored as many points as Kelsey Mitchell, nor has any player in Big Ten history. Only one player — former Washington guard Kelsey Plum — has scored more points in the history of women’s college basketball.
Mitchell capped off her illustrious career as a second-team All-American with 24.3 points per game as a senior this season, and was voted by students to be Ohio State’s best female athlete.
Mitchell also was named Big Ten Player of the Year by the conference’s coaches this season, the third time she was given the award.
This year’s success is nothing new to Mitchell, who on Monday became the program’s first player to be honored four times as an All-American when she was named a second-team All-American for the third time in her career. She also was named a first-team All-American in 2016.
Mitchell averaged at least 22 points per game in each of her four years. She both attempted and made the most 3-pointers in NCAA history and ended her career having made one triple in 92 consecutive games.
Despite Mitchell’s many personal accolades, her team’s season did not end as she hoped. Central Michigan upset the third-seeded Buckeyes in the second round, ending Mitchell’s career. She never managed to lead her team past the Sweet 16 in any of her four collegiate seasons.
Though her collegiate career is over, Mitchell has the potential for an extended professional career. She is viewed as a top-two prospect, along with South Carolina forward A’ja Wilson, in the 2018 WNBA Draft and has the scoring ability to terrorize defenses at the next level.
Runner-up: Alexis Mattern, women’s gymnastics
