Kelsey Mitchell officially has a new home in the sneaker world, and the announcement arrived with a co-sign from a fellow Indiana basketball star. It marks a milestone for both her career and the brand's growing women's basketball roster.

Tyrese Haliburton took to his X account on June 29 to announce that Mitchell is now a Puma athlete. He welcomed her into the brand's family through a video. The post confirmed that she is joining his specific Hali franchise.

Haliburton wrote, "You family now. @Kelz_Hoop", which matched the welcoming tone. It was a message that she was officially part of the Puma team.

Puma designed this video to feel authentic instead of like a standard advertisement. The brand leaned into the strong Indiana connection between the two players. 

Haliburton starts for the Pacers, while Mitchell plays for the Fever. She is now the first women's athlete tied to his Hali signature sneaker line.

Mitchell had already been wearing the Hali 1 shoes on the court throughout the 2026 WNBA season. People noticed this as early as the Fever media day. 

Both players expressed excitement about the deal. "This partnership felt authentic from the start," Mitchell stated. "Seeing the success Tyrese has had with the Hali shoe from day one, I'm excited to team up with him and Puma to trailblaze the Hali franchise into the women's game." 

Haliburton called her "one of the toughest competitors I know," praising her hard work on the court. Those traits reveal the path she took to reach this point in her career.

From Nike to Puma: How Kelsey Mitchell Became Haliburton's First Hali Athlete

The Indiana Fever drafted her as the No. 2 overall pick in 2018. She is a three-time WNBA All-Star who has spent her professional career in Indiana. 

She held a brand partnership with Nike. However, she became a sneaker free agent in early 2026, as reported by Fieldhouse Files. She soon started wearing the Hali 1 sneakers during team events. 

Her performance during the 2026 season shows why Puma wanted to sign her. Through 19 games, she is averaging 21.6 points, 2.6 assists, and 1.5 rebounds per contest. 

Puma is building out its women's basketball roster with top talent. They already feature names like Breanna Stewart, Skylar Diggins-Smith, and NaLyssa Smith. Adding the veteran guard strengthens that talented group. 

Financial terms and contract length remain undisclosed at this time, which is standard for these types of deals.

Which player should lock down the next Puma sneaker deal? 

Read more at Her Sports Nation! 

Written by

Utsav Sinha

Edited by

Utsav Sinha