Former Ohio State guard Taylor Mikesell took her first steps in the professional ranks on Sunday, getting her first preseason action with the Indiana Fever after being drafted to the team in April.
Mikesell saw the floor for 13:53 in the Fever’s 81-56 loss at the Chicago Sky, finishing with 5 points on 2-of-4 shooting, and was hit one of her two attempts from beyond the arc. She also added a rebound and committed a pair of turnovers, all coming off the bench.
Her scoring total tied for the most off the bench for the Fever and was more than three of Indiana’s starters in the preseason debut, continuing a strong camp for Mikesell.
“Already a very good basketball player, but her competitiveness, her defensive side of the basketball, she’s really improved in those areas,” said assistant coach Paul Miller.
The Fever can use any help they can get coming off a 5-31 season, by far the worst record in the WNBA last year. Despite the stellar play of Kelsey Mitchell – another former Buckeye – the team has struggled over the last few seasons, not having made the playoffs since 2016.
The Fever have one preseason game remaining on May 13, hosting the Dallas Wings. Final 12-person rosters must be finalized by 5 p.m. on May 18, one day before the Fever’s season debut on May 19 against the Connecticut Sun.
