player development

Washington Mystics forward Kiki Iriafen shouts as she picks up guard Sonia Citron. Citron is beaming and has both arms around Iriafen's shoulders. Guard Brittney Sykes also has one arm tangled around them.

How rookie Sonia Citron has burst onto the scene as a Mystics cornerstone and WNBA All-Star

By Jenn Hatfield / July 16, 2025

Jade Melbourne: ‘I feel like we’re just continuing to peel back layers of her game’

Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard has her head up as she dribbles the ball with her right hand.

Rhyne Howard’s game has grown — and so has her impact for the Atlanta Dream

By Wilton Jackson / June 22, 2025

Howard: ‘I want to be on an All-WNBA team and WNBA All-Defensive team’

Two photos are shown side-by-side. At left, Washington Mystics guard Jade Melbourne rises for a right-handed layup under heavy pressure from New York Liberty forward Leonie Fiebich. At right, Mystics forward Kiki Iriafen prepares to release a right-handed reverse layup and looks behind her at the rim.

How a ‘Breakfast Club’ is giving Kiki Iriafen, Jade Melbourne the ingredients for success this season

By Jenn Hatfield / June 8, 2025

The Washington Mystics duo is benefiting from 8 a.m. workouts with assistant coach Barbara Turner

Washington Mystics head coach Sydney Johnson, Mystics general manager Jamila Wideman and Monumental Basketball president Michael Winger sit at a podium for a press conference. All three are in dark suit jackets with Mystics pins on the collars. Johnson and Wideman are smiling, while Winger stares straight ahead.

What the new Washington Mystics leadership will prioritize in its rebuild

By Jenn Hatfield / February 13, 2025

General manager Jamila Wideman and head coach Sydney Johnson are looking to build ‘a home’ for players in Washington

A graphic showing Aaliyah Edwards, Kelsey Mitchell and Jordin Canada side-by-side in their respective WNBA jerseys. The text "Unrivaled drama" is overlaid at the bottom in all caps, and the orange Locked On Women's Basketball logo is in the top right corner.

Locked On Women’s Basketball: Jordin Canada, Aaliyah Edwards talk WNBA free agency, Unrivaled

By The IX Basketball / January 30, 2025

Aaliyah Edwards on Unrivaled: ‘We’re competing against the best’

Monmouth director of player development and assistant coach Lola Mullaney stares straight ahead during warmups. She wears a black quarter-zip with a white block "M" logo on it.

How Lola Mullaney has made the leap from Harvard player to Monmouth assistant coach

By Jenn Hatfield / November 15, 2024

Carrie Moore: ‘[She] seems to have grown up overnight’

Las Vegas Aces assistant coach Tyler Marsh watches as guard Kelsey Plum reaches her hand out to defend New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu.

Chicago Sky hire Aces assistant coach Tyler Marsh as head coach

By Alissa Hirsh / November 3, 2024

Marsh brings player development experience, alignment to Sky

Washington Mystics director of player development Sefu Bernard sits next to point guard Julie Vanloo after practice. He has a laptop on his lap. They look at the screen together, and Bernard gestures with one hand as he talks.

Behind the scenes of the Washington Mystics’ player development

By Jenn Hatfield / September 11, 2024

It’s been a tough season for the Mystics, but they’re making deposits in their future

Washington Mystics guard Ariel Atkins dribbles the ball with her left hand just inside the 3-point line.

Ariel Atkins isn’t the Mystics’ point guard, but she’s facilitating more than ever

By Jenn Hatfield / September 1, 2024

Atkins is averaging a career-high 3.4 assists per game while leading Washington in scoring

Washington Mystics forward Myisha Hines-Allen smiles as she runs down the court.

Trading Myisha Hines-Allen was hard for the Mystics, but it can help their rebuild

By Jenn Hatfield / August 22, 2024

Mike Thibault prioritizes draft picks, flexibility to get back to contention