2018 Washington Mystics season

The 2018 WNBA season is the 21st for the Washington Mystics of the Women's National Basketball Association which began on May 20, 2018. The Mystics qualified for the WNBA Playoffs and reached the WNBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.[1]

2018 Washington Mystics season
CoachMike Thibault
ArenaCapital One Arena
Attendance6,136 per game
Results
Record22–12 (.647)
Place2nd (Eastern)
Playoff finish3rd seed; lost in WNBA Finals to Seattle Storm 0–3.
Team Leaders
PointsElena Delle Donne – 20.7 ppg
ReboundsElena Delle Donne – 7.2 rpg
AssistsNatasha Cloud – 4.6 apg
Media
TelevisionNBC Sports Washington and Monumental Sports Network

The Mystics started the season strong with a 5–1 record in May. Their only loss came to eventual league champions Seattle. However, the team couldn't carry this momentum into June, where they went 5–5. The Mystics lost 4 of their first 5 games in June, but turned it around in the second half of the month, winning 4 of their last 5. The up and down season continued into July, where they again went 5–5. The Mystics finished the season just like the started it, strongly. With a 7–1 August record, the team secured a first round playoff bye, and the third overall seed. The Mystics won seven straight games before dropping their season finale against Minnesota. Their final record of 22–12 tied a franchise best, previously set in 2010.

The Mystics hosted a second round playoff game against the Los Angeles Sparks and won 96–64. This win saw them advance to the semifinals where they met the Atlanta Dream. In the best of five series, the Mystics won the final two games to advance to the 2018 WNBA Finals against the Storm. An injury to star Elena Delle Donne in the semifinals hampered her in the finals, and the Mystics were swept 0–3.

Transactions

WNBA draft
See also: 2018 WNBA draft
Round Pick Player Nationality School/Team/Country
1 7 Ariel Atkins  United States Texas
2 19 Myisha Hines-Allen  United States Louisville
3 31 Rebecca Greenwell  United States Duke

Trades/Roster Changes
Date Details
February 1, 2018 C Emma Meesseman to miss 2018 season due to rest.[2]
February 1, 2018 Signed F/G Monique Currie.[3]
February 2, 2018 Re-Signed F Tianna Hawkins, F Allison Hightower, and F LaToya Sanders[4]
February 5, 2018 Re-Signed F Asia Taylor[5]
February 5, 2018 Signed F Devereaux Peters[5]
July 23, 2018 Traded G Tayler Hill and 2019 WNBA draft second round pick and the rights to swap first round picks to Dallas Wings in exchange for F Aerial Powers.[6]

Roster
2018 Washington Mystics roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#Nat.NameHeightWeightDOBFromYrs
G 7 United States Atkins, Ariel 5' 11" (1.8m) 160 lb (73kg) 07-30-1996 Texas R
G 15 United States Cloud, Natasha 6' 0" (1.83m) 160 lb (73kg) 02-22-1992 Saint Joseph's 3
F 25 United States Currie, Monique 6' 0" (1.83m) 175 lb (79kg) 02-25-1983 Duke 12
G/F 11 United States Delle Donne, Elena 6' 5" (1.96m) 187 lb (85kg) 09-05-1989 Delaware 5
F 21 United States Hawkins, Tianna 6' 3" (1.91m) 193 lb (88kg) 03-02-1991 Maryland 4
F 2 United States Hines-Allen, Myisha 6' 2" (1.88m) 200 lb (91kg) 05-30-1996 Louisville R
G/F 23 United States Powers, Aerial 6' 0" (1.83m) 157 lb (71kg) 07-17-1994 Michigan State 2
G 14 United States Ruffin-Pratt, Tierra 5' 11" (1.8m) 180 lb (82kg) 04-11-1991 North Carolina 5
F/C 30 United States Sanders, LaToya 6' 3" (1.91m) 170 lb (77kg) 09-11-1986 North Carolina 5
C 34 United States Thomas, Krystal 6' 5" (1.96m) 210 lb (95kg) 06-10-1989 Duke 6
G 20 United States Toliver, Kristi 5' 7" (1.7m) 130 lb (59kg) 01-27-1987 Maryland 9
G 32 United States Walker-Kimbrough, Shatori 5' 11" (1.8m) 142 lb (64kg) 05-18-1995 Maryland 1
Head coach
United States Mike Thibault (St. Martin's)
Assistant coaches
United States Marianne Stanley (Immaculata)
United States Eric Thibault (Missouri)
Athletic trainer
United States Chalisa Fonza (Western Illinois)
Strength and conditioning coach
Vacant
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Game log

Preseason
2018 pre-season game log
May: 2–0 (Home: 1–0; Road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1 May 6 vs. Minnesota W 90–85 Ruffin-Pratt (17) Peters (6) Tied (3) Wells Fargo Arena
4,203		 1–0
2 May 12 vs. Indiana W 91–56 Tied (15) Hawkins (6) Currie (3) Acierno Arena (University of Delaware)
3,323		 2–0
2018 pre-season schedule

Regular season
2018 game log
Total: 22–12 (Home: 12–5; Road: 10–7)
May: 5–1 (Home: 3–0; Road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1 May 20 Indiana W 82–75 Toliver (16) Delle Donne (5) Delle Donne (7) Capital One Arena
7,400		 1–0
2 May 22 Las Vegas W 75–70 Delle Donne (23) Delle Donne (11) Cloud (5) Capital One Arena
4,509		 2–0
3 May 24 @ Indiana W 93–84 Delle Donne (26) Delle Donne (10) Tied (4) Bankers Life Fieldhouse
4,415		 3–0
4 May 27 Minnesota W 90–78 Toliver (19) Hines–Allen (13) Cloud (8) Capital One Arena
5,723		 4–0
5 May 29 @ Seattle L 77–81 Toliver (20) Hines–Allen (11) Ruffin-Pratt (5) KeyArena
4,453		 4–1
6 May 30 @ Phoenix W 103–95 Toliver (30) Hawkins (12) Atkins (4) Talking Stick Resort Arena
8,188		 5–1
June : 5–5 (Home: 3–4; Road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
7 June 1 @ Las Vegas L 73–74 Currie (24) Currie (8) Toliver (4) Mandalay Bay Events Center
5,575		 5–2
8 June 3 Connecticut L 64–88 Atkins (14) Tied (4) Tied (3) Capital One Arena
5,176		 5–3
9 June 7 Minnesota L 80–88 Cloud (17) Cloud (5) Cloud (9) Capital One Arena
8,587		 5–4
10 June 13 @ Connecticut W 95–91 Delle Donne (36) Delle Donne (5) Toliver (4) Mohegan Sun Arena
 6–4
11 June 15 Los Angeles L 86–97 Delle Donne (18) Sanders (11) Toliver (8) Capital One Arena
5,289		 6–5
12 June 19 Chicago W 88–60 Toliver (19) Delle Donne (7) Toliver (8) Capital One Arena
4,206		 7–5
13 June 22 @ Chicago W 93–77 Delle Donne (30) Sanders (11) Delle Donne (6) Wintrust Arena
5,831		 8–5
14 June 26 Connecticut W 92–80 Delle Donne (25) Sanders (8) Toliver (8) Capital One Arena
4,139		 9–5
15 June 28 New York W 80–77 Delle Donne (22) Sanders (6) Tied (3) Capital One Arena
4,473		 10–5
16 June 30 Phoenix L 74–84 Delle Donne (27) Delle Donne (13) Cloud (4) Capital One Arena
6,218		 10–6
July : 5–5 (Home: 2–1; Road: 3–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
17 July 5 New York W 86–67 Delle Donne (21) Cloud (6) Cloud (10) Capital One Arena
4,674		 11–6
18 July 7 @ Los Angeles W 83–74 Toliver (20) Sanders (8) Tied (3) Staples Center
10,163		 12–6
19 July 8 @ Seattle L 91–97 Delle Donne (29) Delle Donne (7) Toliver (6) KeyArena
8,724		 12–7
20 July 11 Atlanta L 89–106 Cloud (17) Delle Donne (9) Toliver (5) Capital One Arena
11,354		 12–8
21 July 13 Chicago W 88–72 Tied (25) Sanders (8) Cloud (7) Capital One Arena
5,858		 13–8
22 July 15 @ Atlanta L 77–80 Delle Donne (23) Delle Donne (11) Toliver (6) McCamish Pavilion
3,880		 13–9
23 July 19 @ Dallas L 81–90 Sanders (25) Delle Donne (13) Toliver (9) College Park Center
4,411		 13–10
24 July 21 @ New York W 95–78 Delle Donne (30) Delle Donne (10) Toliver (8) Westchester County Center
2,005		 14–10
25 July 24 @ Connecticut L 68–94 Delle Donne (21) Sanders (6) Tied (4) Mohegan Sun Arena
5,125		 14–11
26 July 31 @ Atlanta W 86–71 Delle Donne (28) Delle Donne (16) Toliver (4) McCamish Pavilion
3,648		 15–11
August : 7–1 (Home: 4–0; Road: 3–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
27 August 3 Las Vegas W via forfeit [7] – – – Capital One Arena
0		 16–11
28 August 5 @ Dallas W 76–74 Toliver (16) Powers (6) Toliver (5) College Park Center
5,623		 17–11
29 August 7 @ Phoenix W 103–98 Delle Donne (30) Sanders (5) Cloud (6) Talking Stick Resort Arena
7,769		 18–11
30 August 9 Seattle W 100–77 Delle Donne (30) Sanders (12) Cloud (8) Capital One Arena
6,808		 19–11
31 August 12 Dallas W 93–80 Atkins (26) Sanders (9) Toliver (7) Capital One Arena
6,362		 20–11
32 August 15 @ Indiana W 76–62 Delle Donne (25) Sanders (13) Cloud (7) Bankers Life Fieldhouse
7,636		 21–11
33 August 17 Los Angeles W 69–67 Delle Donne (16) Tied (10) Tied (5) Capital One Arena
7,400		 22–11
34 August 19 @ Minnesota L 83–88 Toliver (17) Tied (5) Toliver (4) Target Center
13,013		 22–12
2018 season schedule

Playoffs
2018 playoff game log
Total: 4–5 (Home: 2–2; Road: 2–3)
Second Round: 1–0 (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 August 23 Los Angeles W 96–64 Donne (19) Donne (12) Toliver (9) Charles Smith Center
3,548		 1–0
Semifinals: 3–2 (Home: 1–1; Road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 August 26 @ Atlanta W 87–84 Delle Donne (32) Delle Donne (13) Toliver (6) McCamish Pavilion
5,086		 1–0
2 August 28 @ Atlanta L 75–78 Delle Donne (27) Delle Donne (14) Tied (6) McCamish Pavilion
3,813		 1–1
3 August 31 Atlanta L 76–81 Powers (18) Hawkins (9) Toliver (6) Charles Smith Center
3,867		 1–2
4 September 2 Atlanta W 97–76 4 Tied (12) Delle Donne (10) Toliver (7) Charles Smith Center
3,722		 2–2
5 September 4 @ Atlanta W 86–81 Atkins (20) Delle Donne (11) Cloud (5) McCamish Pavilion
4,435		 3–2
WNBA Finals: 0–3 (Home: 0–1; Road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 September 7 @ Seattle L 76–89 Atkins (23) Delle Donne, Hawkins (7) Cloud (5) KeyArena
11,486		 0–1
2 September 9 @ Seattle L 73–75 Delle Donne (17) Sanders (5) Toliver (3) KeyArena
14,212		 0–2
3 September 12 Seattle L 82–98 Delle Donne (23) Delle Donne (5) Toliver (5) EagleBank Arena
9,164		 0–3
2018 playoff schedule

Standings
# Eastern Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
1 Atlanta Dream (2)2311.676–13–410–712–4
2 Washington Mystics (3)2212.647112–510–712–4
3 Connecticut Sun (4)2113.618213–48–99–7
4 e – Chicago Sky1321.382107–106–116–10
5 e – New York Liberty727.206164–133–146–10
6 e – Indiana Fever628.176172–154–133–13

Playoffs
Main article: 2018 WNBA Playoffs
First round:
Single elimination
(Aug. 21)		Second round:
Single elimination
(Aug. 23)		Semifinals:
Best-of-five
(Aug. 26 – Sept. 4)		WNBA Finals:
Best-of-five
(Sept. 7 – Sept. 12)
1Seattle Storm9191668494
4Connecticut Sun865Phoenix Mercury8787868684
5Phoenix Mercury1015Phoenix Mercury961Seattle Storm897598
8Dallas Wings833Washington Mystics767382
2Atlanta Dream8478817681
3Washington Mystics963Washington Mystics8775769786
6Los Angeles Sparks756Los Angeles Sparks64
7Minnesota Lynx68

Note: Teams re-seeded after second round and semi-finals.

Statistics
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
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Elena Delle Donne 29 29 32.2 .488 .405 .887 7.2 2.3 0.9 1.4 20.7
Kristi Toliver 33 33 32.9 .433 .360 .918 2.3 4.4 1.2 0.0 13.9
Ariel Atkins 29 24 22.5 .432 .357 .824 2.4 2.1 1.3 0.3 11.3
LaToya Sanders 28 25 24.5 .607 .000 .869 6.4 1.6 1.3 1.1 10.2
Natasha Cloud 27 22 26.5 .436 .386 .778 3.2 4.6 0.8 0.1 8.6
Monique Currie 32 9 15.9 .395 .293 .831 3.0 0.8 0.4 0.2 6.6
Tianna Hawkins 32 4 16.6 .443 .357 .824 3.5 0.8 0.5 0.4 6.3
Aerial Powers 9 0 12.7 .450 .438 1.00 3.2 0.9 0.7 0.4 6.1
Tierra Ruffin-Pratt 33 10 18.1 .341 .314 .855 2.0 1.5 0.6 0.2 5.5
Myisha Hines-Allen 24 1 10.5 .450 .333 .654 2.9 0.4 0.4 0.2 3.8
Shatori Walker-Kimbrough 19 1 8.8 .429 .304 1.00 0.8 0.4 0.4 0.3 3.5
Krystal Thomas 24 7 9.9 .429 .000 .636 2.5 0.2 0.2 0.1 1.8

Awards and honors
Recipient Award Date awarded Ref.
Elena Delle Donne WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week June 18, 2018 [8]
July 2, 2018 [9]
WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month - June July 3, 2018 [10]
WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week July 9, 2018 [11]
Elena Delle Donne WNBA All-Star Captain July 17, 2018 [12]
Kristi Toliver WNBA All-Star Selection
Elena Delle Donne WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week August 13, 2018 [13]
WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month - August August 20, 2018 [14]
Ariel Atkins All-Defensive Second Team August 30, 2018 [15]
All-Rookie Team September 9, 2018 [16]
Elena Delle Donne All-WNBA First Team September 12, 2018 [17]

References
  1. "2018 Washington Mystics Schedule". mystics.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  2. "MEESSEMAN TO MISS 2018 WNBA SEASON". mystics.wnba.com. WNBA. February 1, 2018. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  3. "MONIQUE CURRIE RETURNS TO MYSTICS". mystics.wnba.com. WNBA. February 1, 2018. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  4. "HAWKINS, HIGHTOWER AND SANDERS RE-SIGN WITH WASHINGTON". mystics.wnba.com. WNBA. February 2, 2018. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  5. "MYSTICS ADD PETERS, RE-SIGN TAYLOR". mystics.wnba.com. WNBA. February 5, 2018. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  6. "Mystics Trade Tayler Hill To Wings For Aerial Powers". wnba.com. WNBA. July 23, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  7. "Las Vegas Aces Forfeit Game vs. Washington Mystics". wnba.com. WNBA. August 7, 2018. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
  8. "Elena Delle Donne, Breanna Stewart Named Players of the Week". wnba.com. WNBA. June 18, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  9. "Elena Delle Donne, Maya Moore Named Players of the Week". wnba.com. WNBA. July 2, 2018. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
  10. "Washington's Delle Donne, Phoenix's Taurasi Named WNBA Players of the Month". wnba.com. WNBA. July 3, 2018. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  11. "Elena Delle Donne, A'ja Wilson Named Players of the Week". wnba.com. WNBA. July 9, 2018. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  12. "2018 WNBA All-Stars Announced; Elena Delle Donne, Candace Parker To Serve As Player-Captains". wnba.com. WNBA. July 17, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  13. "Elena Delle Donne, Maya Moore Named WNBA Players Of The Week (Aug 6-12)". wnba.com. WNBA. August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  14. "Elena Delle Donne And Diana Taurasi Named Players Of Month For August". wnba.com. WNBA. August 20, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  15. "Defensive POY Alana Beard Leads 2018 WNBA All-Defensive First Team" (Press release). WNBA. August 30, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  16. "Diamond DeShields, A'ja Wilson Headline 2018 WNBA All-Rookie Team" (Press release). WNBA. September 9, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  17. "2018 All-WNBA Teams Announced: MVP Stewart Headlines First Team, Taurasi Selected for Record 13th Time" (Press release). WNBA. September 12, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
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