2023 Washington Mystics season

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.

2023 Washington Mystics season
CoachEric Thibault
ArenaEntertainment and Sports Arena
Attendance4,391 per game
Results
Record19–21 (.475)
PlaceT-3rd (Eastern)
Playoff finish7th seed; Lost 1st Round 0–2 to New York
Team Leaders
PointsElena Delle Donne – 16.7 ppg
ReboundsShakira Austin – 7.0 rpg
AssistsNatasha Cloud – 6.2 apg

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.[1]

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.[2]

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

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WNBA draft

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Round Pick Player Nationality School/Team/Country
1 4 Stephanie Soares   Brazil Iowa State
2 20 Elena Tsineke   Greece South Florida
3 32 Txell Alarcón   Spain 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)[3]

Transactions

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Date Transaction
November 15, 2022 Head Coach Mike Thibault retires from coaching. Thibault will stay on as General Manager.[4]
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[5]
January 20, 2023 Signed Evina Westbrook to her Qualifying Offer - Training Camp Contract[6]
January 23, 2023 Signed Jazmine Jones to a Qualifying Offer - Training Camp Contract[7]
February 1, 2023 Signed Brittney Sykes to a 3-Year Deal[8]
Signed Shatori Walker-Kimbrough to a 2-Year Deal[9]
Rescinded Qualifying Offer to Rui Machida
February 2, 2023 Signed Tianna Hawkins to a Training Camp Contract[10]
Signed Alisia Jenkins to a Training Camp Contract[11]
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[12]
February 6, 2023 Signed Stephanie Jones to a Training Camp Contract[13]
February 7, 2023 Signed Amanda Zahui B to a Training Camp Contract[14]
March 13, 2023 Signed Li Meng to a Training Camp Contract[15]
March 21, 2023 Hired Ashlee McGee as Assistant Coach[16]
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[17]
April 13, 2023 Signed Elena Tsineke to a Rookie Scale Contract
April 25, 2023 Signed Kristi Toliver[18]
May 1, 2023 Signed Emily Engstler to a Training Camp Contract[19]
May 7, 2023 Waived Evina Westbrook and Alisia Jenkins[20]
May 14, 2023 Waived Stephanie Jones and Elena Tsineke[21]
May 17, 2023 Waived Jazmine Jones and Emily Engstler[22]
June 19, 2023 Temporarily suspend the contract of Li Meng due to Overseas Commitments
June 20, 2023 Signed Abby Meyers to a Hardship Contract[23]
June 30, 2023 Signed Linnae Harper to a Hardship Contract[24]
July 4, 2023 Released Abby Meyers and Linnae Harper from their Hardship Contracts[25]
Traded Amanda Zahui B to the Indiana Fever in exchange for Queen Egbo[26]
July 5, 2023 Activated the temporarily suspended contract of Li Meng due to Overseas Commitments
Signed Linnae Harper to a Hardship Contract[27]
July 12, 2023 Signed Cyesha Goree to a Hardship Contract[28]
July 21, 2023 Signed Abby Meyers to a 7-Day Contract[29]
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[30]
August 12, 2023 Released Linnae Harper from the Hardship Contract
August 13, 2023 Signed Jennie Simms to a 7-Day Contract[31]
August 14, 2023 Released Cyesha Goree from the Hardship Contract[32]
August 15, 2023 Signed Ariel Atkins to a Contract Extension[33]

Roster Changes

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Roster

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2023 Washington Mystics roster
Players Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Height Weight DOB From Yrs
G 7   Atkins, Ariel   5' 8" (1.73m) 167 lb (76kg) 1996-07-30 Texas 5
C 0   Austin, Shakira 6' 5" (1.96m) 190 lb (86kg) 2000-07-25 Mississippi 1
G 9   Cloud, Natasha 5' 9" (1.75m) 160 lb (73kg) 1992-02-22 Saint Joseph's 7
G/F 11   Delle Donne, Elena   6' 5" (1.96m) 187 lb (85kg) 1989-09-05 Delaware 9
C 4   Egbo, Queen 6' 4" (1.93m) 190 lb (86kg) 06-29-2000 Baylor 1
F 21   Hawkins, Tianna 6' 3" (1.91m) 186 lb (84kg) 1991-03-02 Maryland 9
F 2   Hines-Allen, Myisha 6' 2" (1.88m) 200 lb (91kg) 1996-05-30 Louisville 5
F 3   Meng, Li 6' 0" (1.83m) 198 lb (90kg) 01-02-1995 China R
G 15   Sykes, Brittney 5' 9" (1.75m) 154 lb (70kg) 1994-02-07 Syracuse 6
G 20   Toliver, Kristi   5' 7" (1.7m) 130 lb (59kg) 01-27-1987 Maryland 13
G 32   Walker-Kimbrough, Shatori 5' 9" (1.75m) 140 lb (64kg) 1995-05-18 Maryland 6
Head coach
  Eric Thibault (Missouri)
Assistant coaches
  LaToya Sanders (North Carolina)
  Shelley Patterson (Washington State)
  Ashlee McGee (Austin Peay)
Athletic trainer
  Chrisitna Kennedy
Strength and conditioning coach

Vacant


Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  •   Injured

Depth

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Pos. Starter Bench
PG Natasha Cloud Kristi Toliver 
SG Ariel Atkins Shatori Walker-Kimbrough
SF Brittney Sykes Li Meng
PF Elena Delle Donne  Myisha Hines-Allen
Tianna Hawkins
C Shakira Austin Queen Egbo

Schedule

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Preseason

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2023 pre-season game log
Total: 1–1 (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–1)
May: 1–1 (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
1 May 5 @ Minnesota 69–72 Tianna Hawkins (14) Stephanie Jones (9) Natasha Cloud (7) Target Center
5,001
0–1
2 May 10 Atlanta W 88–76 Elena Delle Donne (17) Tianna Hawkins (10) Natasha Cloud (5) Entertainment and Sports Arena
3,612
1–1
2023 pre-season schedule

Regular Season

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2023 game log
Total: 19–21 (Home: 12–8; Road: 7–13)
May: 2–2 (Home: 1–1; Road: 1–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
1 May 19 New York W 80–64 Atkins
Cloud (14)
Brittney Sykes (9) Natasha Cloud (6) Entertainment and Sports Arena
4,200
1–0
2 May 21 @ Connecticut L 74–80 Shakira Austin (21) Austin
Delle Donne (11)
Natasha Cloud (6) Mohegan Sun Arena
7,048
1–1
3 May 23 Connecticut L 81–88 Elena Delle Donne (27) Shakira Austin (8) Delle Donne
Sykes (4)
Entertainment and Sports Arena
3,383
1–2
4 May 26 @ Chicago W 71–69 Elena Delle Donne (25) Shakira Austin (10) Natasha Cloud (7) Wintrust Arena
7,304
2–2
June : 7–4 (Home: 4–1; Road: 3–3)
July : 3–7 (Home: 3–2; Road: 0–5)
August : 5–6 (Home: 4–3; Road: 1–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
26 August 4 Los Angeles W 79–77 Tianna Hawkins (17) Egbo
Hines-Allen (9)
Brittney Sykes (8) Entertainment and Sports Arena
3,747
13–13
27 August 6 Los Angeles L 83–91 Tianna Hawkins (23) Natasha Cloud (6) Natasha Cloud (7) Entertainment and Sports Arena
4,073
13–14
28 August 8 @ Phoenix L 72–91 Brittney Sykes (24) Queen Egbo (6) Myisha Hines-Allen (7) Footprint Center
6,610
13–15
29 August 11 @ Las Vegas L 89–113 Natasha Cloud (21) Tianna Hawkins (10) Cloud
Skyes (6)
Michelob Ultra Arena
9,364
13–16
30 August 13 Chicago L 76–83 Brittney Sykes (30) Cloud
Hawkins (6)
Cloud
Sykes (6)
Entertainment and Sports Arena
3,796
14–16
31 August 18 @ Indiana W 83–79 Brittney Sykes (30) Myisha Hines-Allen (6) Brittney Sykes (4) Gainbridge Fieldhouse
3,506
15–16
32 August 20 Dallas L 84–97 Natasha Cloud (22) Myisha Hines-Allen (8) Myisha Hines-Allen (6) Entertainment and Sports Arena
4,200
15–17
33 August 22 Connecticut L 64–68 Natasha Cloud (19) Queen Egbo (8) Natasha Cloud (5) Entertainment and Sports Arena
3,058
15–18
34 August 26 Las Vegas W 78–62 Elena Delle Donne (21) Austin
Delle Donne
Hawkins (7)
Natasha Cloud (9) Entertainment and Sports Arena
4,200
16–18
35 August 29 Minnesota W 83–72 Brittney Sykes (21) Brittney Sykes (8) Natasha Cloud (9) Entertainment and Sports Arena
3,708
17–18
36 August 31 @ Las Vegas L 75–84 Elena Delle Donne (17) Hines-Allen
Sykes (7)
Cloud
Sykes (5)
Michelob Ultra Arena
8,619
17–19
September : 2–2 (Home: 0–1; Road: 2–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
37 September 3 @ Los Angeles L 64–72 Brittney Sykes (14) Hawkins
Hines-Allen (7)
Natasha Cloud (5) Crypto.com Arena
4,284
17–20
38 September 5 @ Phoenix W 100–77 Natasha Cloud (20) Myisha Hines-Allen (8) Natasha Cloud (10) Footprint Center
7,038
18–20
39 September 8 Atlanta L 75–80 Brittney Sykes (27) Myisha Hines-Allen (7) Natasha Cloud (15) Entertainment and Sports Arena
4,210
18–21
40 September 10 @ New York W 90–88 Brittney Sykes (20) Brittney Sykes (7) Brittney Sykes (6) Barclays Center
8,306
19–21
2023 season schedule

Playoffs

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2023 playoff game log
First Round vs. New York
Lost Series: 0–2
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Series
1 September 15 @ New York L 75–90 Myisha Hines-Allen (21) Hines-Allen
Cloud (8)
Natasha Cloud (8) Barclays Center
8,789
0–1
2 September 19 @ New York L 85–90 (OT) Natasha Cloud (33) Brittney Sykes (12) Natasha Cloud (9) Barclays Center
9,256
0–2
2023 playoff schedule

Standings

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# Team
W L PCT GB Conf. Home Road Cup
1 xLas Vegas Aces 34 6 .850 18–2 19–1 15–5 9–1
2 xNew York Liberty 32 8 .800 2 16–4 15–5 17–3 7–3
3 xConnecticut Sun 27 13 .675 7 14–6 13–7 14–6 7–3
4 xDallas Wings 22 18 .550 12 11–9 11–9 11–9 6–4
5 xAtlanta Dream 19 21 .475 15 11–9 11–9 8–12 6–4
6 xMinnesota Lynx 19 21 .475 15 12–8 9–11 10–10 5–5
7 xWashington Mystics 19 21 .475 15 9–11 12–8 7–13 5–5
8 xChicago Sky 18 22 .450 16 5–15 7–13 11–9 3–7
9 eLos Angeles Sparks 17 23 .425 17 9–11 10–10 7–13 5–5
10 eIndiana Fever 13 27 .325 21 5–15 6–14 7–13 2–8
11 eSeattle Storm 11 29 .275 23 8–12 4–16 7–13 4–6
12 ePhoenix Mercury 9 31 .225 25 2–18 8–12 1–19 1–9

Notes

(#) – League Standing
x – Clinched playoff berth
e – Eliminated from postseason contention
Source: Overall standings and Commissioner's Cup Standings

Playoffs

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Round One:
Best-of-3
Semifinals:
Best-of-5
Finals:
Best-of-5
         
1 Las Vegas Aces 2
8 Chicago Sky 0
1 Las Vegas Aces 3
4 Dallas Wings 0
4 Dallas Wings 2
5 Atlanta Dream 0
1 Las Vegas Aces 3
2 New York Liberty 1
2 New York Liberty 2
7 Washington Mystics 0
2 New York Liberty 3
3 Connecticut Sun 1
3 Connecticut Sun 2
6 Minnesota Lynx 1

Bold Series winner

Statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game  RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game  BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage  TO  Turnovers per game
 PF  Fouls per game Team leader League leader

Regular Season

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Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Elena Delle Donne 23 23 27.5 .485 .393 .938 5.4 2.1 0.8 0.9 16.7
Brittney Sykes 40 40 31.3 .439 .350 .797 5.0 3.8 2.1 0.3 15.9
Natasha Cloud 37 37 32.4 .377 .298 .900 3.7 6.2 1.1 0.3 12.7
Ariel Atkins 27 27 25.1 .414 .339 .897 3.1 2.3 1.2 0.3 11.5
Shakira Austin 19 17 23.2 .500 .000 .610 7.0 0.9 0.8 0.9 10.0
Tianna Hawkins 40 21 23.1 .491 .333 .750 5.0 1.4 0.8 0.4 8.2
Shatori Walker-Kimbrough 40 15 24.8 .429 .390 .936 2.1 1.7 0.7 0.4 6.3
Queen Egbo 21 0 15.8 .544 .000 .633 4.4 0.4 0.6 0.7 6.2
Myisha Hines-Allen 35 18 17.6 .340 .273 .717 4.4 2.2 0.7 0.2 5.6
Li Meng 34 1 15.9 .378 .364 .846 1.1 1.0 0.3 0.0 5.6
Cyesha Goree 10 0 11.6 .469 .214 .857 1.2 0.1 0.3 0.1 3.9
Kristi Toliver 11 0 9.0 .333 .357 .800 0.7 0.7 0.3 0.0 3.6
Amanda Zahui B. 12 1 7.8 .250 .214 .750 1.4 0.3 0.3 0.6 2.0
Linnae Harper 14 0 5.2 .308 .364 .000 0.6 0.3 0.1 0.0 1.4
Abby Meyers 9 0 4.0 .385 .000 1.000 0.4 0.0 0.1 0.2 1.4


Waived/Released during the season
Traded during the season
Acquired during the season

Playoffs

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Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Natasha Cloud 2 2 37.0 .433 .500 1.000 7.0 8.5 2.0 0.0 18.5
Myisha Hines-Allen 2 2 29.5 .636 .333 .500 6.0 2.0 0.0 0.0 15.5
Brittney Sykes 2 2 39.0 .414 .222 .500 8.0 3.5 2.0 0.5 15.0
Ariel Atkins 2 2 33.5 .345 .250 1.000 5.5 3.0 2.0 1.5 13.5
Elena Delle Donne 2 2 36.5 .321 .000 1.000 4.5 3.5 0.5 1.0 11.0
Tianna Hawkins 2 0 14.5 .400 .500 .000 1.5 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.5
Shatori Walker-Kimbrough 2 0 11.0 .400 .000 .500 1.5 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.5
Li Meng 2 0 7.0 .200 .250 .000 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.0 1.5
Queen Egbo 2 0 4.5 .000 .000 .000 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Awards and honors

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Recipient Award Date awarded Ref.
Elena Delle Donne WNBA All-Star July 1 [34]
Brittney Sykes All-Defensive First Team September 22 [35]
Li Meng WNBA All-Rookie Team October 2 [36]

References

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  1. ^ Pickman, Ben. "Mystics' Mike Thibault retires from coaching, will continue as GM; son Eric to take over as coach". theathletic.com. The Athletic. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  2. ^ "WASHINGTON MYSTICS TO PICK FOURTH IN 2023 WNBA DRAFT". mystics.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  3. ^ "Mystics Acquire Future Draft Picks". mystics.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  4. ^ "MIKE THIBAULT TO RETIRE FROM COACHING". mystics.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  5. ^ @RachGall (January 14, 2023). "The Washington Mystics extended Qualifying Offers to Rui Machida, Jazmine Jones, and Evina Westbrook. @Winsidr" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  6. ^ @WashMystics (January 20, 2023). "Welcome back, @evinawestbrook! #TogetherDC" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. ^ @WashMystics (January 23, 2023). "Jazmine Jones has signed a training camp contract!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  8. ^ "Mystics Sign Brittney Sykes!". mystics.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  9. ^ "Mystics Re-Sign Shatori Walker-Kimbrough!". mystics.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  10. ^ @WashMystics (February 2, 2023). "Tianna has signed a training camp contract" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  11. ^ @WashMystics (February 2, 2023). "Alisia has signed a training camp contract" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  12. ^ "Aces Acquire Pair Of Second Round Picks From Washington". aces.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  13. ^ @WashMystics (February 6, 2023). "Stephanie has signed a training camp contract" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  14. ^ "Mystics Sign Amanda Zahui B." mystics.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  15. ^ "Mystics Sign Li Meng to Training Camp Contract". mystics.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  16. ^ "Washington Mystics Name Ashlee McGee Assistant Coach". mystics.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  17. ^ @DallasWings (April 10, 2023). "🚨 Trade Alert 🚨 Welcome to Dallas, Stephanie! #WNBADraft" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  18. ^ "Mystics Sign All-Star Veteran Guard Kristi Toliver". mystics.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  19. ^ @WashMystics (May 1, 2023). "Welcome to the District, @em__baller‼️ We have signed Emily to a training camp contract" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  20. ^ @WashMystics (May 7, 2023). "We have waived Evina Westbrook and Alisia Jenkins" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  21. ^ @WashMystics (May 14, 2023). "Roster Update ⬇️ We have waived Stephanie Jones and Elena Tsineke" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  22. ^ @WashMystics (May 17, 2023). "Roster Update: We have waived Jazmine Jones and Emily Engstler" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  23. ^ @kareemcopeland (June 20, 2023). "The Mystics have signed former Maryland guard Abby Meyers to a hardship contract. The team will be without Li Meng until early July as she goes to play in the Asia Cup. But sounds like there's more roster news coming. #wnba" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  24. ^ @WashMystics (June 30, 2023). "Welcome back to DC! We have signed @Nae_2smoove to a hardship contract" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  25. ^ @WashMystics (July 4, 2023). "Roster Update: We have waived Abby Meyers and Linnae Harper. Thank you both!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  26. ^ "Mystics Acquire Queen Egbo". mystics.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  27. ^ @WashMystics (July 5, 2023). "Roster Update: We have re-signed Linnae Harper to a hardship contract" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  28. ^ @WashMystics (July 12, 2023). "Roster Update: Join us in welcoming Cyesha Goree to DC ‼️" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  29. ^ @WashMystics (July 21, 2023). "Welcome back, Abby ‼️ She has been signed to a hardship contract" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  30. ^ @WashMystics (August 7, 2023). "Roster Update: We have released Abby Meyers. Thank you, Abby!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  31. ^ @WashMystics (August 13, 2023). "Roster Update: We have signed Jennie Simms to a hardship contract! Welcome back! #BallOnOurTerms" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  32. ^ @WashMystics (August 14, 2023). "Roster Update: We have released Cyesha Goree from her hardship contract. Thank you, Cyesha!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  33. ^ "Ariel Atkins Signs Multi-Year Extension". mystics.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  34. ^ "Connecticut Sun's Alyssa Thomas, Washington Mystics' Elena Delle Donne Highlight Reserves For 2023 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game". wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  35. ^ @WNBA (September 22, 2023). "Your 2023 WNBA All-Defensive First Team ⬇️ @_ajawilson22 @athomas_25 @BrittBundlez @breannastewart @jordin_canada #MoreThanGame" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  36. ^ "Indiana Fever's Aliyah Boston Named 2023 Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year". WNBA. October 2, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
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