Kayla Mitchell is a senior psychology major and Sugar Bear basketball player who dreams of combining her love of psychology with her love for basketball as a sports counselor after she graduates.

“I want to help other athletes that may struggle with mental health,” Mitchell said. “I’ve always been interested in the brain.”

Mitchell is from Jonesboro, Arkansas, and played various sports growing up.

“Basketball was the second sport I tried to play growing up,” Mitchell said. “I tried volleyball at first in elementary school but I didn’t like it so I ended up changing to basketball and have loved it ever since.”

Mitchell enjoys attending UCA because she’s close to her family and friends here. This wasn’t always the case, as Mitchell began her collegiate basketball career at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas — where she played for three seasons.

While a Lamar Cardinal, Mitchell led the team with 84 assists and ranked second on the team with 28 steals.

Mitchell decided to enter the transfer portal last year and is happy to be back in her home state.

“My favorite thing about playing for UCA is playing in my home state close to home where my family and friends can watch me play,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell said her favorite thing about basketball is “the competitive nature that it brings and the togetherness.” 

Mitchell is a guard for the Sugar Bear basketball team.

In the season opener at Kansas State on Nov. 11, Mitchell scored six points. Despite Mitchell’s and the team’s best efforts, the Sugar Bears lost to the Wildcats 83-43.

“I think we did a good job early of playing with them, it didn’t really get bad until later past halftime,” Mitchell said. “We did good on our team defense. We could improve on our transition defense, though.”

Regardless of the loss against Kansas State, Mitchell looks forward to the upcoming season, which, as a senior, will be her last.

“I’m looking for a lot of wins this upcoming season and just helping out my team in any way possible,” Mitchell said.

Outside of basketball, Mitchell has a passion for fashion and personal style.

“I really like shopping and putting clothes together,” Mitchell said. “I really enjoy being stylish and expressing myself through clothing.”

Mitchell and the rest of the Sugar Bears will team up against the University of Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks at Fant-Ewing Coliseum Saturday, Nov. 19, at 1 p.m.