KNOW YOUR FLYERS: LEILANI MITCHELL

At 165cm, she may be small in stature, but at 35 years of age Mitchell is the Jayco Southside Flyers oldest and most experienced player.
This superstar has represented Dandenong Rangers, Adelaide Lighting, Sydney Uni Flames and the UC Capitals before joining the Flyers in their inaugural season. It was a reunion of sorts with coach Cheryl Chambers, the pair won a championship together with Sydney in 2016-17. And it was a successful reunion with Leilani winning the Flyers inaugural MVP Trophy and being named in the WNBL All-Star team.
Leilani is point guard for the Opals and has a wealth of experience around the world playing extensively through Europe and in the WNBA. This year, she suited up for Washington Mystics in the WNBA bubble, leading the team in assists and a late surge to the playoffs.
Last year, at the ripe of age of 34, Leilani was named the WNBA’s most improved player, becoming the only player in WNBA and NBA history to ever win the award in more than one season after previously winning the award in 2010.
A winner of many team and individual awards during her incredible career, earlier this year Leilani was inducted into the University of Utah Athletics Hall of Fame in recognition of her outstanding College career in the USA before being selected 25th overall in the 2008 WNBA Draft.
Leilani has a two-year old son Kash with partner Mikaela. Kash only knows WNBL Grand Finals, he was a baby wearing ear muffs when Mitchell and the Capitals claimed the 2018-19 championship and saw a second series in as many years when the Flyers contested the 2019-20 decider.
Kash and his parents will hope to make it three-from-three come December!
“Lei makes other players better, her IQ is off the charts, she’s a professional and along with that, she is a great person. She has an uncanny knack of finding a score under pressure, she can shoot the 3, she can get to the basket and she can also find an open teammate when she needs to.”
FOLLOW LEILANI ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/Leilani_Mitchell5