2021 Washington Mystics season

Last updated

2021 Washington Mystics season
Coach Mike Thibault
Arena Entertainment and Sports Arena
Attendance2,183 per game
Results
Record1220 (.375)
Place4th (Eastern)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Team Leaders
Points Tina Charles – 23.4 ppg
Rebounds Tina Charles – 9.6 rpg
Assists Natasha Cloud – 6.4 apg

The 2021 Washington Mystics season was the franchise's 24th season in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The regular season tipped off versus the Chicago Sky on May 15, 2021. [1]

Contents

The Mystics struggled to start the season only winning two of their six games in the month of May. Their fortunes rebounded when they posted a .500 winning percentage through June and in their two games in July before the Olympic break. In closing out their pre-Olympic schedule they won in overtime versus the Chicago Sky to finish the first portion of the schedule with an 8–10 record. Coming back from the break, they faced a tough schedule and posted a 2–6 record, including losing the first four games back from the break. To close out the season, September contained two wins book marked by two losses on either side. Going into the last day of the season, the Mystics had a chance to secure a playoff spot, but lost to the Minnesota Lynx to miss the playoffs and finish with a 12–20 record. Tina Charles was a bright spot during the season, as she led the league in scoring.

Transactions

WNBA draft

Due to a trade in 2020 for C Tina Charles, the Mystics did not make a selection in the 2021 Draft. [2]

Trades and roster changes

DateDetails
December 28, 2020Exercised Team Option on G Kiara Leslie [3]
January 4, 2021Extended Qualifying Offers to G Stella Johnson, G Jacki Gemelos, and G Sug Sutton [4]
January 8, 2021Re-Signed G Stella Johnson, G Jacki Gemelos, and G Sug Sutton [5]
February 1, 2021Signed F Alysha Clark [6]
February 2, 2021Re-Signed F LaToya Sanders [7]
February 5, 2021Re-Signed C Tina Charles [8]
Acquired F Erica McCall from the Minnesota Lynx in exchange for the Mystic's third round pick in the 2022 WNBA draft. [9]
February 26, 2021Signed G Ariel Atkins to a Contract Extension [10]
March 8, 2021F LaToya Sanders retires. [11]
Signed F Theresa Plaisance [12]
March 10, 2021Re-Signed G Natasha Cloud [13]
March 16, 2021Signed F Aislinn Konig to a Training Camp Contract [14]
March 19, 2021G Jacki Gemelos retires [15]
March 31, 2021Signed G Shavonte Zellous [16]
April 16, 2021Signed F G'mrice Davis to a Training Camp Contract [17]
April 18, 2021Signed F Tyra Whitehead, F Blanca Millán, and G Pre Stanley to Training Camp Contracts [18]
April 20, 2021Full Season Suspend F Alysha Clark due to Overseas Injury [19]
April 30, 2021Signed G Klara Lundquist to a Training Camp Contract [20]
May 2, 2021Waived F Tyra Whitehead [21]
May 5, 2021Full Season Suspend G Klara Lundquist [22]
Waived F Blanca Millan
May 10, 2021Waived G Pre Stanley and G Aislinn Konig [23]
May 11, 2021Waived F G'mrice Davis [24]
May 12, 2021Temporarily Suspend F Myisha Hines-Allen due to Overseas Commitment [25]
May 13, 2021Waived G Sug Sutton [26]
Traded a 2022 2nd Round Pick to Los Angeles in exchange for G Sydney Wiese [27]
May 22, 2021Activate F Myisha Hines-Allen from Temporary Suspension List [28]
Waived F Jillian Alleyne
June 21, 2021Signed F Megan Gustafson to a Hardship Contract [29]
June 28, 2021Waived F Megan Gustafson, G Stella Johnson, and G Kiara Leslie [30]
July 1, 2021Signed F Megan Gustafson and G Shatori Walker-Kimbrough to 7-Day Contracts [31]
July 8, 2021Signed F Megan Gustafson and G Shatori Walker-Kimbrough to a 2nd 7-Day Contracts [32]
August 18, 2021Signed G Shatori Walker-Kimbrough to a Rest-Of-Season Contract [33]
Signed F Megan Gustafson to a 3rd 7-Day Contract
August 25, 2021Signed F Megan Gustafson to a Rest-Of-Season Contract [34]

Roster

2021 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 3
C 31 Flag of the United States.svg Charles, Tina 6' 4" (1.93m)192 lb (87kg)12-05-1988 Connecticut 10
G 9 Flag of the United States.svg Cloud, Natasha 5' 9" (1.75m)160 lb (73kg)02-22-1992 Saint Joseph's 5
G/F 11 Flag of the United States.svg Delle Donne, Elena 6' 5" (1.96m)187 lb (85kg)09-05-1989 Delaware 7
C 10 Flag of the United States.svg Gustafson, Megan 6' 3" (1.91m)195 lb (88kg)12-13-1996 Iowa 2
F 2 Flag of the United States.svg Hines-Allen, Myisha 6' 1" (1.85m)200 lb (91kg)05-30-1996 Louisville 3
F 24 Flag of the United States.svg McCall, Erica 6' 2" (1.88m)184 lb (83kg)1995-08-21 Stanford 4
G 5 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mitchell, Leilani 5' 5" (1.65m)138 lb (63kg)06-15-1985 Utah 12
F 55 Flag of the United States.svg Plaisance, Theresa 6' 5" (1.96m)200 lb (91kg)05-18-1992 LSU 7
G 2 Flag of the United States.svg Walker-Kimbrough, Shatori 5' 9" (1.75m)140 lb (64kg)05-18-1995 Maryland 4
G 24 Flag of the United States.svg Wiese, Sydney 6' 0" (1.83m)165 lb (75kg)06-16-1995 Oregon State 4
G 21 Flag of the United States.svg Zellous, Shavonte 5' 10" (1.78m)188 lb (85kg)08-28-1986 Pittsburgh 11
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 LaToya Sanders (North Carolina)
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

Preseason

2021 pre-season game log
May: 0–2 (Home: 0–1; Road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
1May 5 Atlanta L 80–87 Tina Charles (18) Jillian Alleyne (12) Natasha Cloud (3) Entertainment and Sports Arena
0
0–1
2May 8@ Minnesota L 68–79 Tina Charles (18) Jillian Alleyne (8) Natasha Cloud (4) Target Center
No Fans
0–2
2021 pre-season schedule

Regular season

2021 game log
Total: 12–20 (Home: 8–8; Road: 4–12)
May: 2–4 (Home: 1–2; Road: 1–2)
July : 1–1 (Home: 0–0; Road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
17July 3@ New York L 79–82 Tina Charles (31) Tina Charles (16) Shavonte Zellous (5) Barclays Center
1,615
7–10
18July 10@ Chicago W 89–85 (OT) Tina Charles (34) Tina Charles (17) Natasha Cloud (11) Wintrust Arena
8,331
8–10
September : 2–4 (Home: 1–1; Road: 1–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
27September 4@ Indiana L 75–93 Ariel Atkins (25) Tina Charles (8) Natasha Cloud (6) Target Center
3,403
10–17
28September 7@ Seattle L 71–105 Shavonte Zellous (17) Megan Gustafson (8) Sydney Wiese (4) Angel of the Winds Arena
2,390
10–18
29September 10 Atlanta W 82–74 Tina Charles (26) Tina Charles (16) Cloud
Plaisance (6)
Entertainment and Sports Arena
2,320
11–18
30September 12@ Chicago W 79–71 Tina Charles (31) Tina Charles (10) Natasha Cloud (8) Wintrust Arena
4,707
12–18
31September 17@ New York L 80–91 Ariel Atkins (29) Cloud
Hines-Allen (5)
Charles
Cloud (7)
Barclays Center
3,615
12–19
32September 19 Minnesota L 77–83 Natasha Cloud (22) Tina Charles (13) Natasha Cloud (5) Entertainment and Sports Arena
2,854
12–20
2021 season schedule

Standings

#Team W L PCT GB Conf. Home Road Cup
1xConnecticut Sun 266.81312–315–111–59–1
2xLas Vegas Aces 248.750211–413–311–56–4
3xMinnesota Lynx 2210.688410–513–39–77–3
4xSeattle Storm 2111.65659–611–510–68–2
5xPhoenix Mercury 1913.59476–97–912–45–5
6xChicago Sky 1616.5001010–56–1010–66–4
7xDallas Wings 1418.438127–87–97–93–7
8xNew York Liberty 1220.375146–97–95–115–5
9eWashington Mystics 1220.375147–88–84–124–6
10eLos Angeles Sparks 1220.375142–138–84–121–9
11eAtlanta Dream 824.250186–94–124–124–6
12eIndiana Fever 626.188204–114–122–142–8

Notes

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

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

Source: [35]

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
Tina Charles 272733.344.936.582.09.62.10.90.923.4
Ariel Atkins 303030.640.735.983.12.82.61.60.516.2
Elena Delle Donne 3313.748.160.01004.30.70.00.313.7
Myisha Hines-Allen 181725.741.431.773.27.02.51.30.612.9
Natasha Cloud 272731.638.927.483.63.66.41.40.18.7
Shatori Walker-Kimbrough 161321.651.332.085.71.41.00.80.37.4
Leilani Mitchell 311223.436.035.782.62.02.50.50.16.4
Theresa Plaisance 311118.035.130.281.54.41.40.80.76.4
Sydney Wiese 27821.432.329.177.81.31.60.40.04.4
Shavonte Zellous 28515.837.724.480.62.41.60.40.24.3
Erica McCall 23615.550.00.062.54.30.60.30.44.1
Megan Gustafson 1119.959.40.066.73.60.00.20.14.0

Awards and honors

RecipientAwardDate awardedRef.
Tina Charles Eastern Conference Player of the Week June 14 [36]
Eastern Conference Player of the Month - June July 1 [37]
Ariel Atkins WNBA All-Star Selection June 30 [38]
Tina Charles
Tina Charles Eastern Conference Player of the Week September 13 [39]
Tina Charles Peak Performer: Points September 20 [40]
Ariel Atkins WNBA All-Defensive Second Team September 26, 2021 [41]
Tina Charles All-WNBA Second Team October 15 [42]

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