The 2023 Washington Mystics season was the franchise's 26th season in the Women's National Basketball Association, and their first season under head coach Eric Thibault.
On November 15, 2022, the Mystics announced that former head coach Mike Thibault would be retiring from the coaching side of basketball. He would still retain his General Manager title. They also announced that assistant coach Eric Thibault would be promoted to head coach for the Mystics.
The Mystics earned the fourth overall pick in the 2023 WNBA draft through the Draft Lottery system. They entered the lottery with the third best odds, but fell one spot.
The Mystics started the season off with a win, but then lost their next two games, which were both against Connecticut. After winning their final game, they finished May with a 2–2 record. June began with the Mystics winning three of the first four games. The lost a game before going on a three-game winning streak. They finished the season losing two of their last three games and ended June with a 7–4 record. The team lost two of their first four games in July, before losing five of their last six. They finished July with a 3–7 record. They won their first game in August before a three-game losing streak. They won their next two, but then lost to games, before winning two more games. A loss in the final game of August saw the team finish with a 5–6 record in the month. The Mystics entered September in the hunt for one of the final playoff spots. They began September with a loss, but secured their playoff spot with a win on September 5. They lost their penultimate game of the season, but won their final game to secure the seventh seed.
As the seventh seed in the 2023 WNBA Playoffs they faced off against the second seed New York Liberty. In the first game, New York won by fifteen points, 90–75. Needed to win to keep the series alive, the Mystics forced overtime in New York, but were unable to finish with a win, and lost 85–90 to end their season. This was the second straight season qualifying for the playoffs, and the sixth playoff appearance in seven years for the Mystics.
Transactions
WNBA draft
RoundPickPlayerNationalitySchool/Team/Country 1 4 Stephanie Soares Iowa State 2 20 Elena Tsineke South Florida 3 32 Txell Alarcón Araski AES
Soares was traded on Draft Day to the Dallas Wings in exchange for a future 2024 second-round pick and 2025 first-round draft pick (via Atlanta)
Transactions DateTransaction November 15, 2022 Head coach Mike Thibault retires from coaching. Thibault will stay on as General Manager. Hired Eric Thibault as Head Coach Promoted LaToya Sanders to Associate Head Coach Promoted Maria Giovannetti to Assistant General Manager/Senior Vice President of Strategy and Vision January 13, 2023 Extended Qualifying Offers to Rui Machida, Jazmine Jones, and Evina Westbrook January 20, 2023 Signed Evina Westbrook to her Qualifying Offer - Training Camp Contract January 23, 2023 Signed Jazmine Jones to a Qualifying Offer - Training Camp Contract February 1, 2023 Signed Brittney Sykes to a 3-Year Deal Signed Shatori Walker-Kimbrough to a 2-Year Deal Rescinded Qualifying Offer to Rui Machida February 2, 2023 Signed Tianna Hawkins to a Training Camp Contract Signed Alisia Jenkins to a Training Camp Contract February 5, 2023 Traded a Second-Round Pick in the 2024 and 2025 WNBA Drafts to the Las Vegas Aces in exchange for the negotiating rights to Amanda Zahui B February 6, 2023 Signed Stephanie Jones to a Training Camp Contract February 7, 2023 Signed Amanda Zahui B to a Training Camp Contract March 13, 2023 Signed Li Meng to a Training Camp Contract March 21, 2023 Hired Ashlee McGee as Assistant Coach April 10, 2023 Traded the draft rights to Stephanie Soares to the Dallas Wings in exchange for Dallas's 2024 Second Round Pick and Atlanta's 2025 First Round Pick April 13, 2023 Signed Elena Tsineke to a Rookie Scale Contract April 25, 2023 Signed Kristi Toliver May 1, 2023 Signed Emily Engstler to a Training Camp Contract May 7, 2023 Waived Evina Westbrook and Alisia Jenkins May 14, 2023 Waived Stephanie Jones and Elena Tsineke May 17, 2023 Waived Jazmine Jones and Emily Engstler June 19, 2023 Temporarily suspend the contract of Li Meng due to Overseas Commitments June 20, 2023 Signed Abby Meyers to a Hardship Contract June 30, 2023 Signed Linnae Harper to a Hardship Contract July 4, 2023 Released Abby Meyers and Linnae Harper from their Hardship Contracts Traded Amanda Zahui B to the Indiana Fever in exchange for Queen Egbo July 5, 2023 Activated the temporarily suspended contract of Li Meng due to Overseas Commitments Signed Linnae Harper to a Hardship Contract July 12, 2023 Signed Cyesha Goree to a Hardship Contract July 21, 2023 Signed Abby Meyers to a 7-Day Contract July 28, 2023 Signed Abby Meyers to a 2nd 7-Day Contract August 4, 2023 Signed Abby Meyers to a 3rd 7-Day Contract August 7, 2023 Released Abby Meyers from the 7-Day Contract August 12, 2023 Released Linnae Harper from the Hardship Contract August 13, 2023 Signed Jennie Simms to a 7-Day Contract August 14, 2023 Released Cyesha Goree from the Hardship Contract August 15, 2023 Signed Ariel Atkins to a Contract Extension
Roster Changes
Additions
PersonnelSigned/TradeFormer team Brittney Sykes Free Agency Los Angeles Sparks Amanda Zahui B Trade Las Vegas Aces Li Meng Free Agency Bayi Kylin Kristi Toliver Free Agency Los Angeles Sparks Queen Egbo Trade Indiana Fever
Subtractions PersonnelReasonNew team Evina Westbrook Waived Phoenix Mercury Alysha Clark Free Agency Las Vegas Aces Jazmine Jones Waived - Rui Machida Free Agency - Elizabeth Williams Free Agency Chicago Sky Amanda Zahui B Trade Indiana Fever
Roster
Depth Pos.StarterBench PG Natasha Cloud Kristi Toliver SG Ariel Atkins Shatori Walker-Kimbrough SF Brittney Sykes Li Meng PF Elena Delle Donne Myisha Hines-AllenTianna Hawkins C Shakira Austin Queen Egbo
Schedule
Preseason
| 1 | May 5 | @ Minnesota | 69–72 | Tianna Hawkins (14) | Stephanie Jones (9) | Natasha Cloud (7) | Target Center5,001 | 0–1 |- | 2 | May 10 | Atlanta | W 88–76 | Elena Delle Donne (17) | Tianna Hawkins (10) | Natasha Cloud (5) | Entertainment and Sports Arena3,612 | 1–1
Regular season
| 1 | May 19 | New York | W 80–64 | AtkinsCloud (14) | Brittney Sykes (9) | Natasha Cloud (6) | Entertainment and Sports Arena4,200 | 1–0 |- | 2 | May 21 | @ Connecticut | L 74–80 | Shakira Austin (21) | AustinDelle Donne (11) | Natasha Cloud (6) | Mohegan Sun Arena7,048 | 1–1 |- | 3 | May 23 | Connecticut | L 81–88 | Elena Delle Donne (27) | Shakira Austin (8) | Delle DonneSykes (4) | Entertainment and Sports Arena3,383 | 1–2 |- | 4 | May 26 | @ Chicago | W 71–69 | Elena Delle Donne (25) | Shakira Austin (10) | Natasha Cloud (7) | Wintrust Arena7,304 | 2–2
| 5 | June 2 | Dallas | W 75–74 | Elena Delle Donne (23) | Shakira Austin (11) | Natasha Cloud (8) | Entertainment and Sports Arena3,294 | 3–2 |- | 6 | June 3 | Minnesota | L 78–80 | Ariel Atkins (18) | Shakira Austin (10) | Natasha Cloud (9) | Entertainment and Sports Arena3,534 | 3–3 |- | 7 | June 9 | @ Seattle | W 73–66 | Brittney Sykes (18) | Shakira Austin (11) | Ariel Atkins (6) | Climate Pledge Arena8,397 | 4–3 |- | 8 | June 11 | @ Seattle | W 71–65 | Natasha Cloud (19) | Shakira Austin (9) | Natasha Cloud (5) | Climate Pledge Arena13,213 | 5–3 |- | 9 | June 13 | @ Indiana | L 66–87 | Elena Delle Donne (17) | Delle DonneSykes (6) | Natasha Cloud (5) | Gainbridge Fieldhouse3,005 | 5–4 |- | 10 | June 16 | Phoenix | W 88–69 | Elena Delle Donne (17) | Tianna Hawkins (8) | Ariel Atkins (5) | Entertainment and Sports Arena4,200 | 6–4 |- | 11 | June 18 | Chicago | W 77–69 | Elena Delle Donne (20) | Delle DonneSykes (6) | Natasha Cloud (5) | Entertainment and Sports Arena4,009 | 7–4 |- | 12 | June 22 | @ Chicago | W 80–59 | Elena Delle Donne (18) | Brittney Sykes (11) | Brittney Sykes (5) | Wintrust Arena6,158 | 8–4 |- | 13 | June 25 | @ New York | L 88–89 (OT) | Ariel Atkins (24) | CloudDelle Donne (6) | Natasha Cloud (11) | Barclays Center7,285 | 8–5 |- | 14 | June 28 | Atlanta | W 109–86 | Elena Delle Donne (25) | Tianna Hawkins (11) | Brittney Sykes (10) | Entertainment and Sports Arena3,624 | 9–5 |- | 15 | June 30 | @ Atlanta | L 89–94 | Elena Delle Donne (31) | Brittney Sykes (6) | Natasha Cloud (6) | Gateway Center Arena3,209 | 9–6
| 16 | July 2 | @ Dallas | L 72–89 | Ariel Atkins (20) | Tianna Hawkins (11) | Natasha Cloud (6) | College Park Center4,544 | 9–7 |- | 17 | July 7 | Indiana | W 96–88 | Brittney Sykes (29) | Ariel Atkins (10) | Tianna Hawkins (5) | Entertainment and Sports Arena4,200 | 10–7 |- | 18 | July 9 | @ Connecticut | L 84–92 | Tianna Hawkins (24) | Queen Egbo (7) | Brittney Sykes (7) | Mohegan Sun Arena6,558 | 10–8 |- | 19 | July 11 | Seattle | W 93–86 | Brittney Sykes (26) | Queen Egbo (8) | Natasha Cloud (8) | Entertainment and Sports Arena3,571 | 11–8 |- | 20 | July 19 | Indiana | L 76–82 | Natasha Cloud (19) | Tianna Hawkins (9) | Brittney Sykes (7) | Capital One Arena14,406 | 11–9 |- | 21 | July 21 | New York | L 87–96 | Brittney Sykes (29) | Brittney Sykes (10) | Natasha Cloud (5) | Entertainment and Sports Arena4,200 | 11–10 |- | 22 | July 23 | Phoenix | W 84–69 | CloudSykes (23) | EgboHawkins (7) | Natasha Cloud (9) | Entertainment and Sports Arena4,200 | 12–10 |- | 23 | July 26 | @ Minnesota | L 92–97 | Natasha Cloud (24) | EgboHines-Allen (7) | Natasha Cloud (6) | Target Center7,024 | 12–11 |- | 24 | July 28 | @ Dallas | 62–90 | Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (14) | Brittney Sykes (5) | Brittney Sykes (4) | College Park Center4,048 | 12–12 |- | 25 | July 30 | @ Atlanta | L 73–80 | Brittney Sykes (25) | Tianna Hawkins (10) | Natasha Cloud (4) | Gateway Center Arena3,209 | 12–13
| 26 | August 4 | Los Angeles | W 79–77 | Tianna Hawkins (17) | EgboHines-Allen (9) | Brittney Sykes (8) | Entertainment and Sports Arena3,747 | 13–13 |- | 27 | August 6 | Los Angeles | L 83–91 | Tianna Hawkins (23) | Natasha Cloud (6) | Natasha Cloud (7) | Entertainment and Sports Arena4,073 | 13–14 |- | 28 | August 8 | @ Phoenix | L 72–91 | Brittney Sykes (24) | Queen Egbo (6) | Myisha Hines-Allen (7) | Footprint Center6,610 | 13–15 |- | 29 | August 11 | @ Las Vegas | L 89–113 | Natasha Cloud (21) | Tianna Hawkins (10) | CloudSkyes (6) | Michelob Ultra Arena9,364 | 13–16 |- | 30 | August 13 | Chicago | L 76–83 | Brittney Sykes (30) | CloudHawkins (6) | CloudSykes (6) | Entertainment and Sports Arena3,796 | 14–16 |- | 31 | August 18 | @ Indiana | W 83–79 | Brittney Sykes (30) | Myisha Hines-Allen (6) | Brittney Sykes (4) | Gainbridge Fieldhouse3,506 | 15–16 |- | 32 | August 20 | Dallas | L 84–97 | Natasha Cloud (22) | Myisha Hines-Allen (8) | Myisha Hines-Allen (6) | Entertainment and Sports Arena4,200 | 15–17 |- | 33 | August 22 | Connecticut | L 64–68 | Natasha Cloud (19) | Queen Egbo (8) | Natasha Cloud (5) | Entertainment and Sports Arena3,058 | 15–18 |- | 34 | August 26 | Las Vegas | W 78–62 | Elena Delle Donne (21) | AustinDelle DonneHawkins (7) | Natasha Cloud (9) | Entertainment and Sports Arena4,200 | 16–18 |- | 35 | August 29 | Minnesota | W 83–72 | Brittney Sykes (21) | Brittney Sykes (8) | Natasha Cloud (9) | Entertainment and Sports Arena3,708 | 17–18 |- | 36 | August 31 | @ Las Vegas | L 75–84 | Elena Delle Donne (17) | Hines-AllenSykes (7) | CloudSykes (5) | Michelob Ultra Arena8,619 | 17–19
| 37 | September 3 | @ Los Angeles | L 64–72 | Brittney Sykes (14) | HawkinsHines-Allen (7) | Natasha Cloud (5) | Crypto.com Arena4,284 | 17–20 |- | 38 | September 5 | @ Phoenix | W 100–77 | Natasha Cloud (20) | Myisha Hines-Allen (8) | Natasha Cloud (10) | Footprint Center7,038 | 18–20 |- | 39 | September 8 | Atlanta | L 75–80 | Brittney Sykes (27) | Myisha Hines-Allen (7) | Natasha Cloud (15) | Entertainment and Sports Arena4,210 | 18–21 |- | 40 | September 10 | @ New York | W 90–88 | Brittney Sykes (20) | Brittney Sykes (7) | Brittney Sykes (6) | Barclays Center8,306 | 19–21
Playoffs
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