Aerial

Powers

Mitchell made a three-pointer with 5:45 remaining in the fourth quarter when her leg collided funny with Aces Forward A’ja Wilson. Once the Fever got to their next offensive possession, Mitchell drove and the whistle blew charging her teammate Aliyah Boston with an offensive foul. After that call Mitchell fell to the ground and was down for a while in a lot of pain and took a while to get up. At one point a stretcher came onto the floor to help her up, but she was able to leave with two staffers helping her get to the locker room. In Mitchell’s place, Shey Peddy has played in extended minutes in addition to Aerial Powers.

One day after agreeing to a rest-of-season contract that ensures she’ll be eligible for the postseason, Powers stepped up with an excellent performance against the Mystics. The veteran guard recorded a complete stat line, providing Indiana with needed offensive production. Starting guards Odyssey Sims (6/2/8/1) and Kelsey Mitchell (10 points, one assist and two steals) shot a combined 7-of-18 from the field, but the Fever received welcome contributions from Powers and Shey Peddy as they pulled away from the Mystics after halftime. The 94-63 victory clinched a playoff spot for Indiana, which can still be seeded as high as sixth.

Powers continues to step up for the Fever off the bench. As a result of being much lower on the Valkyries’ scouting report, Powers had space to drive and take open three-pointers. Powers made four of her six shots by putting the ball on the floor and putting pressure on the rim, perhaps the best part of her skillset on offense. She made her final three shots, a wide open three-pointer, a drive to the basket and-one and a mid-range shot over the outstretched arms of Iliana Rupert.

Initially signed on August 23, Powers has agreed to a second seven-day contract with the Fever. The veteran guard has appeared in three games for Indiana, averaging 5.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 0.7 steals in 17.7 minutes. For Powers to be eligible to play for the Fever in the postseason, she must be signed to a rest-of-season contract before the end of the regular season.

Injuries throughout the Fever’s backcourt, including several season-ending injuries, have left them in need of available bodies down the stretch of the season, thus leading to the signing of Powers to a 7-day hardship contract. The veteran guard has only appeared in two games this season, which were with the Valkyries. Powers won a WNBA championship with the Mystics in 2019, and could provide the Fever with defensive versatility in her minutes.

Departures for the upcoming FIBA Women’s EuroBasket tournament will leave the Valkyries light on bodies, resulting in the team making two separate additions to the roster. One day after signing Laeticia Amihere, Golden State agreed to a deal with veteran guard Aerial Powers. She appeared in 17 games for the Dream in 2024, averaging 8.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.8 three-pointers in 17.9 minutes. Injuries limited Powers’ on-court time last season, but she’s a former first-round pick who’s averaged double digits in scoring in six of her nine WNBA seasons.