Leilani Mitchell is set to feature in the WNBA play-offs for a ninth time but with her third different club after helping the Washington Mystics just qualify.
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The Hamilton-based Opals representative, 35, and defending champions the Mystics will meet her former team Phoenix Mercury in a do-or-die clash in Florida on Wednesday (11am AEST).
It comes after two-time WNBA most improved Mitchell provided an equal game-high seven assists as Washington beat the Atlanta Dream 85-78 in the last round on Monday morning.
The Mystics, who had lost 12 of 13 games earlier in the campaign, recorded a fourth straight victory to clinch the No.8 spot. If the result went the other way Washington would have handed the post-season pass to the Dallas Wings, who had already triumped on Monday.
Mitchell joined the Mystics from Phoenix, who finished fifth on the ladder, during the off-season.
The Rio Olympian and Tokyo Games hopeful has previously featured in WNBA play-offs eight times, four each for the Mercury and New York Liberty between 2008 and 2019.
Recently she produced 20 points and a career-best 12 assists for Washington against the Chicago Sky.
Earlier this month Mitchell re-signed with Australian club the Southside Flyers. The WNBL is scheduled to get underway in November but coronavirus restrictions may impact the start date. Discussions continue about establishing a 'bubble', potentially in Queensland.
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