2020 Washington Mystics season

Last updated

2020 Washington Mystics season
Coach Mike Thibault
ArenaOriginally: St. Elizabeths East Arena
Rescheduled to: IMG Academy gymnasiums, Bradenton, Florida
Attendance0 per game
Results
Record9–13 (.409)
Place3rd (Eastern)
Playoff finish8th Seed, Lost in First Round to Phoenix Mercury
Team Leaders
Points Myisha Hines-Allen – 17.0 ppg
Rebounds Myisha Hines-Allen – 8.9 rpg
Assists Leilani Mitchell – 5.4 apg

The 2020 Washington Mystics season was the franchise's 23rd season in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The regular season tipped off versus the Indiana Fever on July 25, 2020. [1]

Contents

This WNBA season will feature an all-time high 36 regular-season games. [2] However, the plan for expanded games was put on hold on April 3, when the WNBA postponed its season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [3] Under a plan approved on June 15, the league is scheduled to hold a shortened 22-game regular season at IMG Academy, without fans present, starting on July 24. [4] [5]

The Mystics were without star Elena Delle Donne for the season, as she sat out due to COVID-19 concerns. Expectations were lowered when it was announced that the 2019 MVP would be out for the season. However, the Mystics defied those expectations in their first three games, winning all three. However, the season took a drastic turn for the worse after that, with the team going 1–11 in their August games. At 4–11 overall, the Mystics were on the outside looking in for the playoffs. The Mystics went 5–2 in September, including a four game win-streak to finish the season and secure the eight seed in the playoffs. As the eight seed, they lost in the first round to the Phoenix Mercury.

Transactions

WNBA draft

RoundPickPlayerNationalitySchool/Team/Country
224 Jaylyn Agnew Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Creighton
336 Sug Sutton Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Texas

Trades and roster changes

DateDetails
February 11, 2020Re-Signed F Elena Delle Donne [6]
February 13, 2020Signed G Leilani Mitchell [7]
February 17, 2020Re-signed G Emma Meesseman [8]
April 15, 2020Engaged in a three team trade where they acquired Tina Charles in exchange for their first-round pick in the 2020 WNBA draft and their first, second, and third round pick in the 2021 WNBA draft and G Shatori Walker-Kimbrough. [9]
June 22, 2020G Natasha Cloud and F/C LaToya Sanders announce they will opt out of the 2020 season. [10]
June 26, 2020Signed G/F Essence Carson. [11]
June 29, 2020Signed C Alaina Coates and G Shey Peddy. [12]

Roster

2020 Washington Mystics roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#Nat.NameHeightWeightDOBFromYrs
G 7 Flag of the United States.svg Atkins, Ariel 5' 8" (1.73m)167 lb (76kg)07-30-1996 Texas 2
C 31 Flag of the United States.svg Charles, Tina 6' 4" (1.93m)192 lb (87kg)12-05-1988 Connecticut 10
C 81 Flag of the United States.svg Coates, Alaina 6' 4" (1.93m)225 lb (102kg)04-07-1995 South Carolina 2
G/F 11 Flag of the United States.svg Delle Donne, Elena 6' 5" (1.96m)187 lb (85kg)09-05-1989 Delaware 7
F 88 Flag of Greece.svg Gemelos, Jacki 6' 0" (1.83m)165 lb (75kg)11-22-1988 USC 1
F 21 Flag of the United States.svg Hawkins, Tianna 6' 3" (1.91m)186 lb (84kg)03-02-1991 Maryland 6
F 2 Flag of the United States.svg Hines-Allen, Myisha 6' 2" (1.88m)200 lb (91kg)05-30-1996 Louisville 2
G 4 Flag of the United States.svg Johnson, Stella 5' 10" (1.78m)158 lb (72kg)07-11-1998 Rider R
G 1 Flag of the United States.svg Leslie, Kiara 6' 0" (1.83m)175 lb (79kg)12-06-1995 NC State R
F 33 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Meesseman, Emma 6' 4" (1.93m)191 lb (87kg)05-13-1993 Belgium 6
G 5 Flag of the United States.svg Mitchell, Leilani 5' 5" (1.65m)138 lb (63kg)06-15-1985 Utah 11
G/F 23 Flag of the United States.svg Powers, Aerial 5' 9" (1.75m)159 lb (72kg)07-17-1994 Michigan State 4
G 0 Flag of the United States.svg Sutton, Sug 5' 8" (1.73m)140 lb (64kg)12-17-1998 Texas R
Head coach
Flag of the United States.svg Mike Thibault (St. Martin's)
Assistant coaches
Flag of the United States.svg Eric Thibault (Missouri)
Flag of the United States.svg Asjha Jones (Connecticut)
Athletic trainer
Flag of the United States.svg Chalisa Fonza (Western Illinois)
Strength and conditioning coach
Vacant
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured

Game log

Regular season

2020 game log
Total: 9–13
July
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1July 25 Indiana Fever W 101–76 Hines-Allen (27) Hines-Allen (10) Mitchell (4) IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance		1–0
2July 28 Connecticut Sun W 94–89 Powers (27) Hines-Allen (8) Meesseman (8)IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance		2–0
3July 30 Seattle Storm W 89–71 Atkins (22) Powers (8) Mitchell (6)IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance		3–0
August
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
4August 1 Chicago Sky L 86–88 Atkins (24) Hines-Allen (10) Meesseman (6) IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance		3–1
5August 5 Las Vegas Aces L 77–83 Meesseman (24) Meesseman (13) Mitchell (4)IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance		3–2
6August 7 New York Liberty L 66–74 Powers (20) Hines-Allen (8) Mitchell (5)IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance		3–3
7August 9 Indiana Fever L 84–91 Meesseman (19) Hawkins (10) Mitchell (5)IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance		3–4
8August 11 Minnesota Lynx L 48–68 Hines-Allen (12)3 tied (6)3 tied (3)IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance		3–5
9August 13 Los Angeles Sparks L 64–81 Atkins (20) Meesseman (11)Tied (5)IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance		3–6
10August 15 Las Vegas Aces L 73–88 Atkins (17) Meesseman (9)Tied (5)IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance		3–7
11August 19 Atlanta Dream W 98–91 Johnson (25) Meesseman (6) Meesseman (10)IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance		4–7
12August 21 Dallas Wings L 92–101 (OT) Hines-Allen (35) Hines-Allen (12) Mitchell (4)IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance		4–8
13August 23 Phoenix Mercury L 87–88 Hawkins (19) Hines-Allen (13) Hines-Allen (8)IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance		4–9
14August 28 Phoenix Mercury L 72–94 Mitchell (17)Tied (6) Mitchell (5)IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance		4–10
15August 30 Connecticut Sun L 63–76 Tied (14) Hines-Allen (13) Hines-Allen (6)IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance		4–11
September
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
16September 2 Seattle Storm L 64–71 Meesseman (17) Hines-Allen (6) Mitchell (5) IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance		4–12
17September 4 Chicago Sky W 79–69 Mitchell (20) Hines-Allen (10) Mitchell (12)IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance		5–12
18September 6 Dallas Wings L 94–101 (OT) Atkins (22) Hines-Allen (13) Mitchell (9)IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance		5–13
19September 8 Minnesota Lynx W 89–86 Hines-Allen (26) Hines-Allen (9) Mitchell (10)IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance		6–13
20September 10 Los Angeles Sparks W 80–72 Hines-Allen (30) Hines-Allen (8) Mitchell (9)IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance		7–13
21September 12 New York Liberty W 75–58 Hines-Allen (25) Hines-Allen (11) Meesseman (7)IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance		8–13
22September 13 Atlanta Dream W 85–78 Atkins (26) Hines-Allen (10)Tied (7)IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance		9–13
2020 season schedule

Playoffs

2020 playoff game log
Total: 0–1
First Round
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1September 15 Phoenix Mercury L 84–85 Mitchell (25) Hines-Allen (9)4 tied (4) IMG Academy 0–1
2020 playoff schedule

Standings

#Team W L PCT GB Conf.
1x – Las Vegas Aces 184.818–8–2
2x – Seattle Storm 184.818–8–2
3x – Los Angeles Sparks 157.68235–5
4x – Minnesota Lynx 148.63644–6
5x – Phoenix Mercury 139.59154–6
6x – Chicago Sky 1210.54566–4
7x – Connecticut Sun 1012.45587–3
8x – Washington Mystics 913.40996–4
9e – Dallas Wings 814.364101–9
10e – Atlanta Dream 715.318115–5
11e – Indiana Fever 616.273124–6
12e – New York Liberty 220.091162–8

Notes

x – Clinched playoff berth
e – Eliminated from playoffs
Home and Away records not shown, as all games played at a neutral location.
Updated to include results from September 13, 2020
Source

Playoffs

First round:
Single elimination
(September 15)		Second round:
Single elimination
(September 17)		Semifinals:
Best-of-five
(September 20–29)		 WNBA Finals:
Best-of-five
(October 2–11)
1 Las Vegas Aces 6283688466
4 Minnesota Lynx 807 Connecticut Sun 8775777563
5 Phoenix Mercury 855 Phoenix Mercury 791 Las Vegas Aces 809159
8 Washington Mystics 842 Seattle Storm 9310492
2 Seattle Storm 888992
3 Los Angeles Sparks 594 Minnesota Lynx 867971
6 Chicago Sky 817 Connecticut Sun 73
7 Connecticut Sun 94

Note: Teams re-seeded after each round.

Statistics

Legend
  GPGames 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 gameTeam leaderLeague leader

Regular season

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
Myisha Hines-Allen 222230.051.042.682.88.92.61.50.217.0
Aerial Powers 6629.846.434.683.34.82.51.5016.3
Ariel Atkins 222231.043.841.188.62.92.41.80.314.8
Emma Meesseman 202031.045.428.982.95.34.51.20.813.0
Leilani Mitchell 222230.640.830.587.22.85.40.809.5
Stella Johnson 5218.848.564.31002.02.41.00.49.2
Tianna Hawkins 17519.440.829.884.63.51.00.80.48.5
Kiara Leslie 191021.835.236.292.33.01.10.50.45.5
Jacki Gemelos 12116.131.320.750.01.41.20.30.13.2
Sug Sutton 1209.436.429.471.40.81.00.102.8
Alaina Coates 2009.952.9053.82.80.50.40.22.5

Awards and honors

RecipientAwardDate awardedRef.
Myisha Hines-Allen Eastern Conference Player of the Week August 3, 2020 [13]
September 14, 2020 [14]
Eastern Conference Player of the Month – September September 15, 2020 [15]
Ariel Atkins 2nd Team All-Defense September 29, 2020 [16]
Myisha Hines-Allen All-WNBA Second Team October 4, 2020 [17]

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References

  1. ↑ "2020 Washington Mystics Schedule". WNBA.com - Official Site of the WNBA. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Atlanta Dream Announce 2020 Schedule - Atlanta Dream". dream.wnba.com. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  3. ↑ "WNBA Statement Regarding the Start of the 2020 Regular Season". April 3, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  4. ↑ "WNBA Announces Plan To Tip Off 2020 Season". WNBA. June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  5. ↑ "WNBA announces plans for 2020 season to start late July in Florida". NBC Sports Washington. June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  6. ↑ "MYSTICS RE-SIGN REIGNING MVP ELENA DELLE DONNE". mystics.wnba.com. WNBA. February 11, 2020. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  7. ↑ "LEILANI MITCHELL RETURNS TO MYSTICS". mystics.wnba.com. WNBA. February 13, 2020. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  8. ↑ "MYSTICS RE-SIGN 2019 FINALS MVP EMMA MEESSEMAN". mystics.wnba.com. WNBA. February 17, 2020. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Washington Mystics Acquire 7x All-Star Tina Charles in Three-Team Deal". wnba.com. WNBA. April 15, 2020. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  10. ↑ "CLOUD, SANDERS TO OPT OUT OF 2020 SEASON". wnba.com. WNBA. June 22, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Mystics Sign Veteran Essence Carson". wnba.com. WNBA. June 26, 2020. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  12. ↑ "MYSTICS SIGN ALAINA COATES AND SHEY PEDDY". wnba.com. WNBA. June 29, 2020. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Stewart, Hines-Allen Earn First Players Of The Week Honors Of The Season". wnba.com. WNBA. August 3, 2020. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Hines-Allen, Wilson Earn Player Of The Week Honors For Week 7". wnba.com. WNBA. September 14, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  15. ↑ "WNBA Announces Players Of The Month". wnba.com. WNBA. September 15, 2020. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Two Atlanta Dream Players And Seattle Storm's Alysha Clark Headline 2020 WNBA All-Defensive Team". wnba.com. WNBA. September 29, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  17. ↑ "A'ja Wilson And Candace Parker Unanimously Selected To 2020 All-WNBA First Team". wnba.com. WNBA. October 4, 2020. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
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