so my question is, why would the Mystics keep trying to "run it back" like they've been doing the past few years – and as people continue to want them to – when it hasn't been working? cuz it starts with EDD & her health. notice how she was someone who didn't sign an extension as others did late in the season. does she want to explore her options? and/or, does the organization want her back at a reduced price point – if at all?
by all accounts, the Mystics are a solid, drama-free organization that players like playing for (note Natasha Cloud's postgame interview upon her & her team getting eliminated – she probably re-signs, though it remains to be seen). but i'm not sure which legitimately high-end free agent would want to sign here at this point when they just don't know what they'll be getting themselves into.
as such, i think the team's outlook would actually be better if Delle Donne retired or signed elsewhere (and would she be willing to go anywhere else other than maybe New York?) than if she came back. she's not the only one on this team who can't stay healthy, but she sure is the most important.
The question is whether she'll play for less than the max. She's averaged 22 games per year over her career and there's no indication that number is going to rise. She's not a 20 ppg scorer anymore, so it's not like she's a guaranteed max player even if she played every game.
The Mystics fall into a very depressing category: An aging team that is already mediocre.
You can argue that if Shakira Austin is healthy, the Mystics might be in the Finals, but if Austin is playing, Myisha Hines-Allen probably isn't -- and she played very well. And this team will likely never be healthy, given its roster and age.
Run it back? Who's going to be better next year than they were this year? Austin, maybe. And then ...
You could hope for EDD to have one last great season, Natasha Cloud to shoot well for an entire summer and everyone else to be their best selves, but you'd have to show me the wizard and the magic wand first.
Blow it up? The No. 6 pick will be someone who has a chance to be a starter but consider that Jasmine Dickey and Michaela Onyenwere came from that spot. The free agent market just keeps you being old.
Blow it up? The No. 6 pick will be someone who has a chance to be a starter but consider that Jasmine Dickey and Michaela Onyenwere came from that spot.
one correction: Dickey was a 3rd-rounder. otherwise, all valid points.
“The fandom of women’s sports has exploded in recent years and the Mystics are consistently selling out their home games,” the spokesperson said. “We believe we can create a tailored game day experience for that expanding fan base and provide the space for this championship-winning team to continue growing the franchise to play for 10,000 fans within 3-5 years.”
Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser is not happy about that plan, claiming a move for the 2019 WNBA champs would be a big setback for development east of the Anacostia River, a main focus of her administration.
wouldn’t be a terrible year for the Mystics to let EDD and Cloud walk (or core one of them) and just have Eric Thibault rebuild the team in the way he wants. 2025’s draft should have something for every lottery team no matter who show up to 2024’s.
i actually kinda don't like that development of sorts for the Mystics lmao. although if they can't even fill their current arena in these next couple years amidst this rebuild...
speaking of which, i didn't realize how serious they were about rebuilding:
[Alexa] Philippou: In one offseason, the Mystics went from a WNBA title contender when healthy to a team that might not even make the playoffs. It seems the franchise is full steam ahead with this rebuild, as it was reported last week that general manager Mike Thibault sent a letter to season-ticket holders in which he wrote, "We've decided we need a fresh start and usher in a new era of Mystics basketball."
so i wonder if there's more selling to come from them. this is probably why they haven't re-signed Hawkins and she's still a free agent. i wouldn't be surprised to see them part with Walker-Kimbrough at some point either, whose contract is now unprotected after being protected for last season. i hope Engstler makes the roster, and maybe Richards & Cunane have a chance now as well.