Dan Dakich tells Kelsey Mitchell to grow up for complaining about hate

Dan Dakich told Kelsey Mitchell to grow up after she complained about hate on social media, according to www.basketballnetwork.net.

The former ESPN analyst questioned how WNBA players can demand the same level of attention and recognition enjoyed by NBA players while struggling with the criticism that inevitably comes as a league grows more popular.

“Sports fans have disliked their own teams 10 minutes into sports being invented. Let’s just be honest about it,” Dakich said.

Mitchell, a four-time All-Star, had acknowledged the downside of being a Fever player, citing an overwhelming amount of hate directed at her on social media. Her admission did not sit well with Dakich, who fired back in a bold manner.

Dakich’s pushback lands at a moment when Mitchell is enjoying the most visible season of her career. The veteran guard has been central to the Fever’s historic offensive campaign, but with that spotlight has come scrutiny she says she never imagined.

MITCHELL'S HISTORIC SEASON

Mitchell delivered the finest regular season of her career in 2026, averaging a career-high 24.7 points per game while shooting 45.0 percent from three-point range. At 30 years old, she showed she can legitimately be part of the MVP conversation.

The veteran guard also etched her name into the WNBA record book. Mitchell broke A'ja Wilson's record of 20 consecutive 20-point games, extending the streak to 27 before it finally came to an end.

Mitchell and Caitlin Clark helped the Fever produce an offensive season unlike anything the league had previously seen. Indiana averaged 96.0 points per game, the highest scoring average by a team in league history.

Despite sharing the spotlight with Clark, Mitchell received recognition for her contributions. But that same visibility came with a cost she never anticipated.

The four-time All-Star was exposed to "a lot of flak" and scrutiny that she never imagined, and the negativity was difficult to handle. Mitchell stressed that being part of the most-followed franchise in the WNBA brought an overwhelming amount of hate directed at her on social media.