Young Mystics find joy in WNBA crash course ahead of season opener
by Liam Griffin · The Washington TimesMany of the Washington Mystics’ rookies, including top pick Lauren Betts, are less than a month removed from the end of their collegiate careers. They have just over a week to prepare for their WNBA debuts.
The Mystics are, once again, the youngest team in the league. The franchise has just two players with more than a year of WNBA experience. One of those players — center Shakira Austin — has missed the start of training camp as she vies for a title in China’s WCBA.
Back in the District, the youngsters are learning on the fly together.
“It’s very comforting knowing that I’m not the only rookie here, so I’m not the only person who’s making mistakes,” Betts said Tuesday. “We’re all making mistakes and growing together.”
The trial-and-error approach is encouraged by second-year coach Sydney Johnson. It’s how they get better, he reasoned.
Part of his job as the team’s leader is to spotlight the work that leads to growth. The Mystics’ training sessions end with the team — including the male practice players, coaches and the rest of the roster — circling up on the practice court.
The players briefly assemble on their own, deciding who to spotlight in front of the group. They then shower their teammates with praise and applause in front of the coaching staff.
“Lucy [Olsen] is consistent throughout training camp,” Kiki Iriafen, who was an All-Star during her rookie campaign last year, said. “She brings the energy.”
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Johnson then leads by example.
“I don’t know if anyone plays harder than Christine [Iwuala.] I just think you’re exceptional,” he told the group this week. “Lucy, well done. Michaela [Onyenwere,] we appreciate your leadership. Sonia [Citron] speaking up in huddles. Georgia [Amoore] does a wonderful job thinking about others at all times.”
The list goes on as the applause, cheers and laughter echo around the court.
“It’s fundamental to who we are. We want to see each other,” Johnson said. “Sometimes the season can move so fast. There’s all kinds of stuff going on. For us, we just want to slow it down a little bit, make sure we’re seeing each other.”
The Mystics aren’t unique in their post-practice praise sessions, but the effort is still appreciated by the new blood.
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“I think it’s just really sweet,” Betts said. “It’s good to recognize that, though all the horror, there’s a lot of positives we can get from practice.”
The effort is intentional. Olsen said joy is mentioned as a pillar of the Mystics’ blossoming culture, with players regularly reminded to have fun as they pursue their WNBA dreams.
They don’t have to try.
“It’s just the energy we have,” Olsen said. “It’s like, we don’t have to force having fun.”
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The work itself is difficult. Johnson is frantically trying to prepare a roster for a WNBA season that begins May 8 with a game against the Toronto Tempo. Less than a month ago, most of his players were playing in college or overseas.
The Mystics’ coaching staff has been tasked with not only building chemistry but also preparing the fresh faces for the speed and intensity of the WNBA.
“We don’t have a lot of time. We’re going to need games for that. That is a big difference between us and some of the older teams; that’s life,” Johnson said. “We’re going to take that head-on. I’m not going to lie or say anything different. We’ll work through it as a group.”
But while his players learn to become WNBA players, Johnson has had to learn the ropes of being a WNBA executive. The Mystics cut ties with former general manager Jamila Wideman this month, just days before the draft and free agency period began. Johnson was given control of the roster decisions.
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“It’s not nothing,” he confessed. “But I am doing more.”
Michael Winger, the executive who oversees the Wizards and Mystics, has assisted Johnson so the long-time coach can focus on the season. A slew of other Mystics front-office staff, including former Georgetown coach John Thomson III, have also pitched in.
“I’m not really doing it by myself,” Johnson said. “I might lose a couple of hours, but not all night.”
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.