“I just wanted to live”: WNBA guard Tiffany Mitchell fought for her life before making inspiring comeback | NBA News
WNBA veteran Tiffany Mitchell has signed with the Seattle Storm as a free agent. The 30-year-old shooting guard was previously with the Las Vegas Aces before making the move to the Storm, a team in urgent need of experienced and dynamic players. Mitchell’s return to the court is nothing short of inspiring — just months ago, she was fighting for her life after being diagnosed with sepsis.
Tiffany Mitchell’s battle with sepsis
Tiffany Mitchell revealed that during her health crisis, basketball was the last thing on her mind — her only focus was survival. In a video shared with her fans, she gave a raw and emotional glimpse into the harrowing journey she endured. She recounted how a routine surgery took a devastating turn.“I went in for a surgery that I was supposed to heal from in a week or two, but during that period, I could tell I wasn’t getting better,” she explained. “I had to return to the hospital. I went back three times before they finally discovered I was septic. During that time, I just disappeared. I think it was during the All-Star break— I was supposed to rejoin the team afterward, but I never came back.”Detailing her symptoms and the severity of her condition, she continued, “I had an extremely high fever. It felt like I was being stabbed in my abdomen. Fluid began to surround my lungs, and breathing became difficult. I couldn’t do anything for myself. I was always in pain. As someone who’s always been strong, having all of that taken away was devastating. At that point, I wasn’t thinking about returning to basketball — I just wanted to live. There were days I truly didn’t think I’d make it through.”Ending the video on a powerful note, Mitchell declared, “I’m a fighter. I’ve always been a fighter my whole life.” The video was shared only after her return to the court this season. Fans and fellow athletes flooded the comments with support, praising her strength, resilience, and inspiring comeback.Also Read: WNBA star Angel Reese diverts attention towards her mother after a frustrating loss against the Washington Mystics This marks Tiffany Mitchell’s tenth year in the WNBA, and the star guard shows no signs of slowing down. Reflecting on the milestone, she shared in a post that she’s “never taking this feeling for granted.”
