The Washington Mystics have been in the spotlight over the past decade thanks to their success on the court. Based in Washington, D.C., the Mystics were founded in 1998 and compete in the WNBA’s Eastern Conference. They play their home games at CareFirst Arena.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Mystics, including ownership, team history, and franchise valuation.
Who Owns the Washington Mystics?
The Mystics are owned by Monumental Sports & Entertainment, led by Ted Leonsis, who acquired the team in 2005. Leonsis also owns the NBA’s Washington Wizards and the NHL’s Washington Capitals. His net worth is reported to be $3.1 billion. He’s also the founder of SnagFilms and a former president and vice chairman of America Online (AOL).
In December 2024, the Mystics named Jamila Wideman as general manager and Sydney Johnson as head coach.
Washington Mystics: Estimated Valuation
As of June 2024, the Mystics are valued at $80 million. That places them tied as the third-lowest-valued team in the WNBA, ahead of only the Dallas Wings ($75 million) and the Atlanta Dream ($55 million). With the team’s performance on the rise, the valuation is expected to climb as well.
Washington Mystics History
The Mystics lost their first-ever WNBA game to the Charlotte Sting and dropped the next two as well. Their first win came in their fourth game against the Utah Starzz. They finished their inaugural season with a 3-27 record.
After joining the league in 1998, the Mystics didn’t make the playoffs in their first two seasons. They qualified in their third year but had to wait until the 2002 season for their first postseason win.
From 2003 to 2016, the team either missed the playoffs or fell in the conference semifinals. In 2017, they reached the WNBA Semifinals for the first time but lost to the Minnesota Lynx. They followed up by making the WNBA Finals in 2018, where they lost to the Seattle Storm.
In 2019, the Mystics finished first in the Eastern Conference and earned a direct berth in the WNBA Semifinals. They beat the Las Vegas Aces to reach the Finals for the second year in a row. In a series that went the distance, the Mystics beat the Connecticut Sun 3-2 to win their first WNBA Championship. Since then, the team has remained competitive but hasn’t made a deep playoff run.
Important Players of the Washington Mystics
The Mystics have featured several star players throughout their history. Here are some of the franchise legends:
- Elena Delle Donne: Delle Donne played for the Mystics from 2017 to 2023 and was instrumental in their 2019 championship run. She’s a seven-time WNBA All-Star and two-time WNBA MVP.
Elena Delle Donne
2013 NO. 2 OVERALL DRAFT PICK 2013 ROTY 2x WNBA MVP 4x ALL-WNBA FIRST TEAM 7x WNBA ALL-STAR
And we can’t forget 2019, bringing the first ever Championship to the Washington MysticsThank you for all that you’ve done for the game 💐 pic.twitter.com/hPwnE86rgO
— WNBA (@WNBA) April 4, 2025
- Chamique Holdsclaw: The 1999 WNBA Rookie of the Year, Holdsclaw played for Washington from 1999 to 2004. She was a six-time All-Star and made the All-WNBA Second Team three times.
- Emma Meesseman: Drafted by the Mystics in 2013, Meesseman played through 2020 and was named 2019 WNBA Finals MVP. She’s a two-time WNBA All-Star.
In the 2025 WNBA Draft, the Mystics selected Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen, Georgia Amoore, Lucy Olsen, and Zaay Green as they look to build toward another title run.
Every Washington Mystics Head Coach in History
The Mystics have had 15 head coaches, including Mike Thibault, who led the franchise to its only championship. Here’s the full list:
- Jim Lewis (1997–1998)
- Cathy Parson (1998)
- Nancy Darsch (1999–2000)
- Darrell Walker (2000)
- Tom Maher (2001)
- Marianne Stanley (2002–2003)
- Michael Adams (2004)
- Richie Adubato (2005–2007)
- Tree Rollins (2007–2008)
- Jessie Kenlaw (2008)
- Julie Plank (2009–2010)
- Trudi Lacey (2011–2012)
- Mike Thibault (2013–2022)
- Eric Thibault (2023–2024)
- Sydney Johnson (2025–present)
