Skip to main content

With strong defense, Mystics go in search of another WNBA title

By Dave Johnson

It is playoff time in the WNBA, and the Washington Mystics are hoping there is something to the popular axiom that “defense wins championships.”

The Mystics have the WNBA’s top overall defensive rating and limit opponents to a league best 29.7 points per game in the paint. Armed with those numbers, the Mystics’ quest for their second title as they close out their 25th anniversary season begins Thursday in Seattle against the Storm with Game 1 of a best-of-three series.

“I think the feeling around the league is ‘watch out for Washington if they can score consistently,'” said Mystics head coach Mike Thibault. “We have shown with our defense not only can we compete with the best teams in the league, but we can beat them.”

The Mystics’ steel-on defense starts with Natasha Cloud, Ariel Atkins and Alysha Clark who according to Thibault have defense etched in as part of their identities as players. All have been on the WNBA’s all-defensive team.

Washington Mystics head coach Mike Thibault, left, talks to his players during a timeout in the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the Las Vegas Aces, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020, in Bradenton, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Offseason acquisition Elizabeth Williams is a defensive stopper who has also earned WNBA defensive honors. In addition, Thibault thinks rookie Shakira Austin is one of those rare players who, in their first season in professional basketball, excels on the defensive end.

With her presence, Elena Delle Donne adds to the defensive mix and is one of the best shot blockers in the WNBA. This past season Delle Donne played in 25 of 36 regular season games after appearing in only three games since the Mystics won their title in October 2019. Delle Donne has had to deal with back issues but is working hard to return to MVP level.

“She is literally putting in some days eight hours (a) day just to be ready to play,” said Thibault. “That kind of commitment allows her to go out and average close to 20 points a game and six and seven rebounds a game. That takes a special dedication to her craft and to wanting to be one of the best players in the league.”

In the WNBA playoff format, Seattle will host the first two games of the series because they were 2-1 in regular season games against the Mystics. One of those Mystics losses was decided on the last possession and pushed the Mystics down to the fifth seed even though they had the same record as the fourth-seeded Storm.

If the Mystics can secure a win in Seattle, then they would host the decisive game three Wednesday, Aug. 24, at the Entertainment and Sports Arena in Congress Heights.

In 2018 the Storm swept the Mystics for their first WNBA title. The championship series loss motivated the Mystics, who responded by winning it all in 2019. The Storm lifted the trophy again in 2020.

Seattle is led by forward Breanna Stewart, who led the WNBA in scoring for the first time in her career, averaging 21.8 points. She is also the first player to repeat as The Associated Press WNBA Player of the Year.

“We are going into a series that is a very even matchup,” said Thibault. “People will be saying the winner of this series can win the whole thing”

Elena Delle Donne back at Team USA after ‘greatest offseason ever’

By Tyler Byrum
Delle Donne back at Team USA after 'greatest offseason ever' originally appeared on NBC Sports WashingtonThe rest of the WNBA better be prepared. Elena Delle Donne just said she is coming off "the greatest offseason" of her career.No longer is she rehabbing nor easing her back toward playing at full health. The two-time WNBA MVP is building up strength, hitting PRs in the gym and gearing up for another run at a championship in 2023. Her comments came at USA Basketball's initial camp in preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympics. It was just Delle Donne's second stint with the team since she had multiple back procedures in the 2019-20 WNBA offseason. Last year she joined her American teammates while they practiced at the Mystics' D.C. practice facility in January 2022. She was limited in her involvement then, participating in the first half of practices before moving to shooting-only drills. Following the WNBA season, Delle Donne opted out of the August 2022 camp in the lead-up to the FIBA World Cup, even after receiving an invite. This time, though, the 2016 Olympic gold medalist is back without restriction."I'm full go, no hesitation. I was setting some big screens today on the guys," Delle Donne said in a Zoom press conference. It would be one thing if the "greatest offseason" comment came after an ordinary offseason for one of the best players in the league. But this was an offseason where Delle Donne said she was no longer worried about progressing in her recovery. She was recovered. It's now a matter of her getting back to training workouts and improving her game."To be able to now train and not be rehabbing is so refreshing," Delle Donne said. "It had been many offseasons of rehabbing, surgeries or whatever that may be. So to be lifting now, lifting far more weight than I have ever lifted in my life, and to be on this plan to get me ready and as strong as possible for the season, I feel really good about it."Don't think that's a big deal? Look at her numbers from last season.She was one of five players to average 17+ points, 6+ rebounds and 2+ assists per game. Every player in that group made an All-WNBA team, except Delle Donne. Her player efficiency rating (25.4) was third-best in the league. Her win-share (4.4) was 10th. All of that came as she attempted to complete her first full regular season since 2019. She played 25 of the possible 36 games, leading the team to an 18-7 record which would be tied with the champion Las Vegas Aces for the highest winning percentage (.720) when stretched out to a full season.Related: Mystics aren't concerned with Liberty, Aces movesNow, with eight months of re-focusing on her abilities with her new and improved back, that will be a high ceiling she could reach this year."It's no longer 'am I going to be healthy?' It's 'how can I be the best Elena I can possibly be on court.' That's where the focus is now which is a very big relief," Delle Donne said. Getting back to playing with Team USA is one of the goals that she set out to achieve during her revival. Missing out on the 2020 Toyko Olympics - which took place in 2021 - was hard on her. She "struggled" to watch the games because of how hard it was for her to not be on the team.If she makes the roster for Paris, she can check that goal off her list. As for her WNBA goals?"(It's the same goal it always is; win a championship," Delle Donne said.
Read Next Story

Related News

Elena Delle Donne back at Team USA after ‘greatest offseason ever’

Mystics sign former No. 2 overall pick Amanda Zahui B. to fill backup center role

Brittney Sykes signing is about her potential more than accomplishments