Know All About Washington Mystics: Roster, Owner, Coach and More

The Washington Mystics functions as an American professional basketball organization in Washington, D.C. The Mystics belong to the Eastern Conference of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). The team launched its operations before the start of the 1998 professional season. Still, Ted Leonsis controls it through his Monumental Sports & Entertainment holding, along with ownership of the Washington Wizards franchise. Since 2019, the Washington Mystics have gained the greatest recognition for their WNBA Championship success under the leadership of Elena Delle Donne.

Washington Mystics Overview

Since their foundation in 1998, the Washington Mystics have operated as a WNBA professional women’s basketball team that maintains its headquarters in Washington D.C. The team obtained their first WNBA Championship in 2019. The league has featured two star players with Elena Delle Donne being an MVP winner and Kristi Toliver also playing a significant role. Throughout their existence, the Mystics have gained recognition for their winning performance level dedicated fan base, and supportive community outreach.

Washington Mystics Roster

This detailed list contains information about Washington Mystics players including names jersey numbers and position with age height and weight measurements.

Washington Mystics Head Coach

Washington Mystics selected head coach Sydney Johnson together with general manager Jamila Wideman to lead the franchise. Since working with Chicago Sky as an assistant under Teresa Weatherspoon Johnson advanced to his current position. Besides coaching USA Basketball he leads the new role as the coach for the USA 3×3 Women’s AmeriCup Team which he accepted in early December. From 2007 to 2011 Johnson served as the Princeton head coach while from 2011 to 201919 he led the Fairfield basketball team.

Washington Mystics Assistant Coach

Shelley Patterson and Ashlee McGee are the assistant coaches of the Washington Mystics. Shelley Patterson began her role as assistant coach for the Mystics when she joined in 2022. Coach Shelley Patterson maintains many years of WNBA coaching experience where she earned recognition for her defensive abilities and skills in developing players.

McGee holds two roles within the Mystics organization as both assistant coach and team assistant coach. The Mystics organization values McGee for her specialized player development skills and her reputation for teaching athletes to develop their abilities.

Washington Mystics Coaching Staff

FRANCHISE OPERATIONS
Jim Van Stone, President, Business Operations & Chief Commercial Officer
Alycen McAuley – Chief Business Officer & Team President

MARKETING & FAN DEVELOPMENT
Dana Campbell –Vice President, Marketing
Matt Voelker – Senior Director, Retail
Erin Blaine – Manager, Fan Experience
Felicia Urban – Coordinator, Brand Marketing
Deja Lakin – Associate, Fan Experience

YOUTH BASKETBALL
Shannon Clancy – Director, Youth Basketball
Drew Seagroves – Coordinator, Youth Basketball

Washington Mystics Owner

Ted Leonsis is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE), a major player in the sports world. As the principal owner, he oversees operations for the NHL’s Washington Capitals, the NBA’s Washington Wizards, and the WNBA’s Washington Mystics. Under his leadership, the Mystics won their first WNBA championship in 2019. Leonsis’ influence has solidified him as a prominent figure in sports, with a focus on expanding his teams’ success both on and off the court.

Washington Mystics Famous Players

The Washington Mystics roster contains significant players whose retirement status and age with the country of origin can be seen in this table. The lists demonstrate how the Washington Mystics have depended on both historic retired stars and present-day contributors to evolve into their current successful form.

Elena Delle Donne

Washington Mystics utilizes Elena Delle Donne as their professional WNBA basketball player. She was selected as the second overall pick in the 2013 WNBA Draft. She has been named WNBA MVP twice (2015, and 2019) and has earned multiple All-Star appearances. Delle Donne’s versatile skills, including her shooting, post-play, and defensive strength, helped lead the Mystics to the 2019 WNBA Championship.

Emma Meesseman

Emma Meesseman, a Belgian professional basketball player, plays for the Washington Mystics in the WNBA. Selected as the 19th pick in the 2013 WNBA Draft, Meesseman excels in scoring, rebounding, and passing. As a key contributor to the Mystics’ 2019 championship win, she was named Finals MVP. Meesseman is no longer with the Washington Mystics, after the 2022 WNBA season, she opted to sit out the 2023 season.

Chamique Holdsclaw

The WNBA legend Chamique Holdsclaw is renowned by many as one of the league’s most excellent players. The Washington Mystics selected Holdsclaw in 1999 before she rose to stardom as an All-Star selection six times. The Washington Mystics benefited from her leadership at both offense and defense during multiple playoff seasons. Holdsclaw retired from basketball in 2007 as she collected many awards including WNBA Rookie of the Year while maintaining status as an influential teacher in women’s basketball.

Monique Currie

Branching from her WNBA career Monique Currie retired as an elite scorer. The February 25, 1983 birthdate of Monique Currie was Washington D.C., before she joined the Duke University basketball team where she received All-American recognition. The Washington Mystics picked Currie in the third selection of the 2006 WNBA Draft. Her professional basketball career took her to play for multiple teams: first, the Mystics, followed by Chicago Sky, and then finally, with the Phoenix Mercury.

Washington Mystics Arena

The WNBA franchise Washington Mystics entered the league in its 1998 second season. The Mystics started their games at Capital One Arena which serves as a dual home to the Wizards and Capitals and is located in Downtown DC. The Mystics relocated to Southeast DC and settled at the Entertainment & Sports Arena in 2019. The ESA sits within St. Elizabeth’s former state mental hospital grounds and accommodates 4,200 spectators while offering a favorable setting for the Mystics’ audience levels at that point.

Washington Mystics Stats & Records

The statistical evolution of the Washington Mystics across multiple seasons appears in this table showing the recordings for victories and defeats together with winning percentages and postseason benefits along with head coaching changes. From 1998 until 2024 the team faced a combination of growing challenges and successes yet made significant progress under head coach Mike Thibault.

Washington Mystics Jersey and Logo

The 2023 Washington Mystics Nike Rebel Edition uniform is inspired by civil rights pioneer Nannie Helen Burroughs, who founded the National Training School for Women and Girls and created one of D.C.’s first women’s basketball teams. The uniform debuted on May 23, 2023, against the Connecticut Sun. The design honors women who paved the way for future generations. The fonts, heart neck detail, and filigree frames reflect Burroughs’ design and the architecture of her school. The 2023 Nike Rebel Edition campaign highlights women who defy classification, uniting them in a mission for equity and empowerment.

Washington Mystics Logo

The Washington Mystics logo uses a unique composition that brings together mystic elements and team-based features. A star occupies the focal position in the logo because it symbolizes the mystical nature of the team identity. The star typically shows five points, creating a powerful yet strong visual aspect.
The logo displays an implementation of red white and blue colors representing Washington D.C.’s patriotism along with the Mystics’ U.S. capital association. The team name “Mystics” receives presentation in a contemporary stylized font below or next to the logo which keeps the team name easily identifiable.

Washington Mystics Retired Jersey

The Washington Mystics organization reserved retired jersey status to pay tribute to athletes who shaped the team through their exceptional contributions. Chamique Holdsclaw (#23) earned her place into the Washington Mystics Hall of Fame after becoming a 6-time All-Star and foundational player for the team thus receiving her jersey retirement in 2001. Alana Beard (#23) earned retirement honors in 2018 because of her role as a 5-time All-Star and 2-time Defensive Player of the Year, and her jersey was retired in 2004.

Washington Mystics Mascot

The Washington Mystics basketball team uses Pax the Panda as its official mascot. Pax used his energetic personality along with his playful behavior to excite spectators through his game participation as well as his involvement in community activities. Through his panda outfit and pleasant attitude Pax brings to life the Mystic’s ethical core while working to create an inclusive environment for families. The Mystics receive added vibrant energy because of his appearances both at their games and special events.

Washington Mystics Rivalries

The main rivalries for the Washington Mystics stretch between the Connecticut Sun and the Atlanta Dream, along with the Las Vegas Aces. The rivalry between the Washington Mystics and Connecticut Sun reaches its highest point during playoff competitions while both teams demonstrate fierce competitive play throughout the seasons. Throughout many years, both teams have drawn their strength from the Eastern Conference through multiple high-stakes competitions. The rivalry reached its peak point in the 2019 WNBA semifinals as the Mystics beat the Sun to secure their place in the Finals.

Washington Mystics Instagram

Washington Mystics Instagram handle is @washmystics. The team’s Instagram page has 8141 posts,146K followers, and 423 following. The page spotlights individual players, their achievements, and personal stories. Their postings provide updates about Mystics schedule changes along with team roster modifications and upcoming promotional events. Engage with fans by posting interactive content such as polls, shout-outs, and fan-driven campaigns.

Washington Mystics Social Presence

Washington Mystics Twitter handle is @WashMystics. It joined the platform in February 2009. Mystics have 921 following and 76.6K followers. The platform provides real-time game updates through tweets which include both score updates and key moments from each game. The platform conveys news concerning impending games together with player acquisition news and essential team developments.

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