2020 Washington Mystics season

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{WNBA season

| team = Washington Mystics

| year = 2020

| attendance = 0

| wins = 9

| losses = 13

| conf = Eastern

| conf_place = 3

| coach = Mike Thibault

| arena = Originally: St. Elizabeths East Arena
Rescheduled to: IMG Academy gymnasiums, Bradenton, Florida

| points = Myisha Hines-Allen – 17.0 ppg

| rebounds = Myisha Hines-Allen – 8.9 rpg

| assists = Leilani Mitchell – 5.4 apg

| playoffs = 8th Seed, Lost in First Round to Phoenix Mercury

| television =

}}

The 2020 Washington Mystics season was the franchise's 23rd season in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The regular season tipped off versus the Indiana Fever on July 25, 2020.{{cite web|url=https://mystics.wnba.com/schedule/#?season=2020&seasontype=01|title=2020 Washington Mystics Schedule|website=WNBA.com - Official Site of the WNBA|language=en|access-date=February 14, 2020}}

This WNBA season will feature an all-time high 36 regular-season games.{{cite web|url=https://dream.wnba.com/news/atlanta-dream-announce-2020-schedule/|title=Atlanta Dream Announce 2020 Schedule - Atlanta Dream|website=dream.wnba.com|accessdate=February 1, 2020}} However, the plan for expanded games was put on hold on April 3, when the WNBA postponed its season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite news|date=2020-04-03|title=WNBA Statement Regarding the Start of the 2020 Regular Season|url=https://www.wnba.com/news/wnba-statement-regarding-the-start-of-the-2020-regular-season/|access-date=2020-04-03}} Under a plan approved on June 15, the league is scheduled to hold a shortened 22-game regular season at IMG Academy, without fans present, starting on July 24.{{Cite web|date=2020-06-15|title=WNBA Announces Plan To Tip Off 2020 Season|url=https://www.wnba.com/news/wnba-announces-plan-to-tip-off-2020-season/|access-date=2020-06-17|website=WNBA|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2020-06-15|title=WNBA announces plans for 2020 season to start late July in Florida|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/mystics/wnba-announces-plans-2020-season-start-late-july-florida|access-date=2020-06-15|website=NBC Sports Washington}}

The Mystics were without star Elena Delle Donne for the season, as she sat out due to COVID-19 concerns. Expectations were lowered when it was announced that the 2019 MVP would be out for the season. However, the Mystics defied those expectations in their first three games, winning all three. However, the season took a drastic turn for the worse after that, with the team going 1–11 in their August games. At 4–11 overall, the Mystics were on the outside looking in for the playoffs. The Mystics went 5–2 in September, including a four game win-streak to finish the season and secure the eight seed in the playoffs. As the eight seed, they lost in the first round to the Phoenix Mercury.

Transactions

= WNBA draft =

{{see also|2020 WNBA draft}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

! width="2%" style="{{NBA color cell|Washington Mystics}}" |Round

! width="5%" style="{{NBA color cell|Washington Mystics}}" |Pick

! width="10%" style="{{NBA color cell|Washington Mystics}}" |Player

! width="10%" style="{{NBA color cell|Washington Mystics}}" |Nationality

! width="10%" style="{{NBA color cell|Washington Mystics}}" |School/Team/Country

2

| 24

| Jaylyn Agnew

| {{USA}}

| Creighton

3

| 36

| Sug Sutton

| {{USA}}

| Texas

=Trades and roster changes=

class="wikitable" style="width:80%; text-align: center;"

! style="{{WNBA color cell|Washington Mystics}}" width=125" |Date

! style="{{WNBA color cell|Washington Mystics}}" colspan="2" |Details

February 11, 2020

| Re-Signed F Elena Delle Donne{{cite web|url=https://mystics.wnba.com/news/mystics-re-sign-reigning-mvp-elena-delle-donne/|title=MYSTICS RE-SIGN REIGNING MVP ELENA DELLE DONNE|website=mystics.wnba.com|publisher=WNBA|language=en|date=February 11, 2020|accessdate=February 14, 2020}}

February 13, 2020

| Signed G Leilani Mitchell{{cite web|url=https://mystics.wnba.com/news/leilani-mitchell-returns-to-mystics/|title=LEILANI MITCHELL RETURNS TO MYSTICS|website=mystics.wnba.com|publisher=WNBA|language=en|date=February 13, 2020|accessdate=February 14, 2020}}

February 17, 2020

| Re-signed G Emma Meesseman{{cite web|url=https://mystics.wnba.com/news/mystics-re-sign-2019-finals-mvp-emma-meesseman/|title=MYSTICS RE-SIGN 2019 FINALS MVP EMMA MEESSEMAN|website=mystics.wnba.com|publisher=WNBA|language=en|date=February 17, 2020|accessdate=February 17, 2020}}

April 15, 2020

| Engaged in a three team trade where they acquired Tina Charles in exchange for their first-round pick in the 2020 WNBA draft and their first, second, and third round pick in the 2021 WNBA draft and G Shatori Walker-Kimbrough.{{cite web|url=https://www.wnba.com/news/washington-mystics-acquire-7x-all-star-tina-charles/|title=Washington Mystics Acquire 7x All-Star Tina Charles in Three-Team Deal|website=wnba.com|publisher=WNBA|date=April 15, 2020|accessdate=April 15, 2020}}

June 22, 2020

| G Natasha Cloud and F/C LaToya Sanders announce they will opt out of the 2020 season.{{cite web|url=https://mystics.wnba.com/news/cloud-sanders-to-opt-out-of-2020-season/|title=CLOUD, SANDERS TO OPT OUT OF 2020 SEASON|website=wnba.com|publisher=WNBA|date=June 22, 2020|accessdate=June 23, 2020}}

June 26, 2020

| Signed G/F Essence Carson.{{cite web|url=https://www.wnba.com/news/mystics-sign-veteran-essence-carson/|title=Mystics Sign Veteran Essence Carson|website=wnba.com|publisher=WNBA|date=June 26, 2020|accessdate=June 29, 2020}}

June 29, 2020

| Signed C Alaina Coates and G Shey Peddy.{{cite web|url=https://mystics.wnba.com/news/mystics-sign-alaina-coates-and-shey-peddy/|title=MYSTICS SIGN ALAINA COATES AND SHEY PEDDY|website=wnba.com|publisher=WNBA|date=June 29, 2020|accessdate=June 30, 2020}}

Roster

{{sports roster

| team=Washington Mystics

| season = 2020

| style = WNBA

| players =

{{sports roster/entry | num = 7 | first = Ariel | last = Atkins | pos = G | ft = 5 | in = 8 | lbs = 167 | DOB = 07-30-1996 | yrs = 2 | college = Texas | nat = USA}}

{{sports roster/entry | num = 31 | first = Tina | last = Charles | dab = basketball | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 4 | lbs = 192 | DOB = 12-05-1988 | yrs = 10 | college = Connecticut | nat = USA}}

{{sports roster/entry | num = 81 | first = Alaina | last = Coates | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 4 | lbs = 225 | DOB = 04-07-1995 | yrs = 2 | college = South Carolina | nat = USA}}

{{sports roster/entry | num = 11 | first = Elena | last = Delle Donne | pos = G/F | ft = 6 | in = 5 | lbs = 187 | DOB = 09-05-1989 | yrs = 7 | college = Delaware | nat = USA}}

{{sports roster/entry | num = 88 | first = Jacki | last = Gemelos | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 0 | lbs = 165 | DOB = 11-22-1988 | yrs = 1 | college = Southern California | nat = GRE}}

{{sports roster/entry | num = 21 | first = Tianna | last = Hawkins| pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 3 | lbs = 186 | DOB = 03-02-1991 | yrs = 6 | college = Maryland | nat = USA}}

{{sports roster/entry | num = 2 | first = Myisha | last = Hines-Allen | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 2 | lbs = 200 | DOB = 05-30-1996 | yrs = 2 | college = Louisville | nat = USA}}

{{sports roster/entry | num = 4 | first = Stella | last = Johnson | dab= basketball | pos = G | ft = 5 | in = 10 | lbs = 158 | DOB = 07-11-1998 | yrs = R | college = Rider | nat = USA}}

{{sports roster/entry | num = 1 | first = Kiara | last = Leslie | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 0 | lbs = 175 | DOB = 12-06-1995 | yrs = R | college = NC State | nat = USA}}

{{sports roster/entry | num = 33 | first = Emma | last = Meesseman | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 4 | lbs = 191 | DOB = 05-13-1993 | yrs = 6 | from = Belgium | nat = BEL}}

{{sports roster/entry | num = 5 | first = Leilani | last = Mitchell | pos = G | ft = 5 | in = 5 | lbs = 138 | DOB = 06-15-1985 | yrs = 11 | from = Utah | nat = USA}}

{{sports roster/entry | num = 23 | first = Aerial | last = Powers | pos = F/G | ft = 5 | in = 9 | lbs = 159 | DOB = 07-17-1994 | yrs = 4 | college = Michigan State | nat = USA}}

{{sports roster/entry | num = 0 | first = Sug | last = Sutton | pos = G | ft = 5 | in = 8 | lbs = 140 | DOB = 12-17-1998 | yrs = R | college = Texas | nat = USA}}

| head_coach =

{{sports roster/entry|nat=USA| first = Mike | last = Thibault| college = St. Martin's University}}

| asst_coach =

{{sports roster/entry|nat=USA| first = Eric | last = Thibault | nolink = 1| college = Missouri}}

{{sports roster/entry|nat=USA| first = Asjha | last = Jones| college = Connecticut}}

| ath_train =

{{sports roster/entry|nat=USA| first = Chalisa | last = Fonza | nolink = 1| college = Western Illinois}}

| str_cond =

}}

Game log

=Regular season=

{{WNBA game log start|Washington Mystics|end_year=2020|note=
Total: 9–13}}

{{WNBA game log section|Washington Mystics|July|first=yes}}

|- style="background:#bbffbb;"

| 1

| July 25

| Indiana Fever

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200725/INDWAS/ W 101–76]

| Hines-Allen (27)

| Hines-Allen (10)

| Mitchell (4)

| IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance

| 1–0

|- style="background:#bbffbb;"

| 2

| July 28

| Connecticut Sun

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200728/WASCON/ W 94–89]

| Powers (27)

| Hines-Allen (8)

| Meesseman (8)

| IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance

| 2–0

|- style="background:#bbffbb;"

| 3

| July 30

| Seattle Storm

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200730/SEAWAS/ W 89–71]

| Atkins (22)

| Powers (8)

| Mitchell (6)

| IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance

| 3–0

{{WNBA game log section|Washington Mystics|August}}

|- style="background:#fcc;"

| 4

| August 1

| Chicago Sky

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200801/WASCHI/ L 86–88]

| Atkins (24)

| Hines-Allen (10)

| Meesseman (6)

| IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance

| 3–1

|- style="background:#fcc;"

| 5

| August 5

| Las Vegas Aces

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200805/LVAWAS/ L 77–83]

| Meesseman (24)

| Meesseman (13)

| Mitchell (4)

| IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance

| 3–2

|- style="background:#fcc;"

| 6

| August 7

| New York Liberty

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200807/NYLWAS/ L 66–74]

| Powers (20)

| Hines-Allen (8)

| Mitchell (5)

| IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance

| 3–3

|- style="background:#fcc;"

| 7

| August 9

| Indiana Fever

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200809/WASIND/ L 84–91]

| Meesseman (19)

| Hawkins (10)

| Mitchell (5)

| IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance

| 3–4

|- style="background:#fcc;"

| 8

| August 11

| Minnesota Lynx

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200811/WASMIN/ L 48–68]

| Hines-Allen (12)

| 3 tied (6)

| 3 tied (3)

| IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance

| 3–5

|- style="background:#fcc;"

| 9

| August 13

| Los Angeles Sparks

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200813/LASWAS/ L 64–81]

| Atkins (20)

| Meesseman (11)

| Tied (5)

| IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance

| 3–6

|- style="background:#fcc;"

| 10

| August 15

| Las Vegas Aces

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200815/WASLVA/ L 73–88]

| Atkins (17)

| Meesseman (9)

| Tied (5)

| IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance

| 3–7

|- style="background:#bbffbb;"

| 11

| August 19

| Atlanta Dream

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200819/ATLWAS/ W 98–91]

| Johnson (25)

| Meesseman (6)

| Meesseman (10)

| IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance

| 4–7

|- style="background:#fcc;"

| 12

| August 21

| Dallas Wings

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200821/WASDAL/ L 92–101 (OT)]

| Hines-Allen (35)

| Hines-Allen (12)

| Mitchell (4)

| IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance

| 4–8

|- style="background:#fcc;"

| 13

| August 23

| Phoenix Mercury

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200823/PHOWAS/ L 87–88]

| Hawkins (19)

| Hines-Allen (13)

| Hines-Allen (8)

| IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance

| 4–9

|- style="background:#fcc;"

| 14

| August 28

| Phoenix Mercury

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200828/WASPHO/ L 72–94]

| Mitchell (17)

| Tied (6)

| Mitchell (5)

| IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance

| 4–10

|- style="background:#fcc;"

| 15

| August 30

| Connecticut Sun

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200830/CONWAS/ L 63–76]

| Tied (14)

| Hines-Allen (13)

| Hines-Allen (6)

| IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance

| 4–11

{{WNBA game log section|Washington Mystics|September}}

|- style="background:#fcc;"

| 16

| September 2

| Seattle Storm

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200902/WASSEA/ L 64–71]

| Meesseman (17)

| Hines-Allen (6)

| Mitchell (5)

| IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance

| 4–12

|- style="background:#bbffbb;"

| 17

| September 4

| Chicago Sky

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200904/CHIWAS/ W 79–69]

| Mitchell (20)

| Hines-Allen (10)

| Mitchell (12)

| IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance

| 5–12

|- style="background:#fcc;"

| 18

| September 6

| Dallas Wings

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200906/DALWAS/ L 94–101 (OT)]

| Atkins (22)

| Hines-Allen (13)

| Mitchell (9)

| IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance

| 5–13

|- style="background:#bbffbb;"

| 19

| September 8

| Minnesota Lynx

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200908/MINWAS/ W 89–86]

| Hines-Allen (26)

| Hines-Allen (9)

| Mitchell (10)

| IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance

| 6–13

|- style="background:#bbffbb;"

| 20

| September 10

| Los Angeles Sparks

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200910/WASLAS/ W 80–72]

| Hines-Allen (30)

| Hines-Allen (8)

| Mitchell (9)

| IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance

| 7–13

|- style="background:#bbffbb;"

| 21

| September 12

| New York Liberty

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200912/WASNYL/ W 75–58]

| Hines-Allen (25)

| Hines-Allen (11)

| Meesseman (7)

| IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance

| 8–13

|- style="background:#bbffbb;"

| 22

| September 13

| Atlanta Dream

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200913/WASATL/ W 85–78]

| Atkins (26)

| Hines-Allen (10)

| Tied (7)

| IMG Academy
No In-Person Attendance

| 9–13

{{WNBA game log end|was|end_year=2020}}

= Playoffs =

{{WNBA game log start|Washington Mystics|playoffs=yes|end_year=2020|record=Total: 0–1}}

{{WNBA game log section|Washington Mystics|First Round|playoffs=yes|first=yes}}

|- style="background:#fcc;"

| 1

| September 15

| Phoenix Mercury

| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200915/WASPHO/ L 84–85]

| Mitchell (25)

| Hines-Allen (9)

| 4 tied (4)

| IMG Academy

| 0–1

{{WNBA game log end|WAS|playoffs=yes|end_year=2020}}

Standings

{{2020 WNBA standings|team=WAS|notes=yes}}

Playoffs

{{main|2020 WNBA Playoffs}}

{{trim|{{#section-h:2020 WNBA Playoffs|Bracket}}}}

Statistics

{{WNBA roster statistics legend}}

=Regular season=

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
style="{{NBA color cell|Washington Mystics}}" width="16%" | Player

! style="{{NBA color cell|Washington Mystics}}" width="6%" | GP

! style="{{NBA color cell|Washington Mystics}}" width="6%" | GS

! style="{{NBA color cell|Washington Mystics}};" width="6%" | MPG

! style="{{NBA color cell|Washington Mystics}}" width="6%" | FG%

! style="{{NBA color cell|Washington Mystics}}" width="6%" | 3P%

! style="{{NBA color cell|Washington Mystics}}" width="6%" | FT%

! style="{{NBA color cell|Washington Mystics}}" width="6%" | RPG

! style="{{NBA color cell|Washington Mystics}}" width="6%" | APG

! style="{{NBA color cell|Washington Mystics}}" width="6%" | SPG

! style="{{NBA color cell|Washington Mystics}}" width="6%" | BPG

! style="{{NBA color cell|Washington Mystics}}" width="6%" | PPG

Myisha Hines-Allen

| style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 22

| style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 22

| 30.0

| 51.0

| 42.6

| 82.8

| style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 8.9

| 2.6

| 1.5

| 0.2

| style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 17.0

Aerial Powers

| 6

| 6

| 29.8

| 46.4

| 34.6

| 83.3

| 4.8

| 2.5

| 1.5

| 0

| 16.3

Ariel Atkins

| style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 22

| style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 22

| 31.0

| 43.8

| 41.1

| 88.6

| 2.9

| 2.4

| style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 1.8

| 0.3

| 14.8

Emma Meesseman

| 20

| 20

| style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 31.0

| 45.4

| 28.9

| 82.9

| 5.3

| 4.5

| 1.2

| style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 0.8

| 13.0

Leilani Mitchell

| style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 22

| style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 22

| 30.6

| 40.8

| 30.5

| 87.2

| 2.8

| style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 5.4

| 0.8

| 0

| 9.5

Stella Johnson

| 5

| 2

| 18.8

| 48.5

| style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 64.3

| style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 100

| 2.0

| 2.4

| 1.0

| 0.4

| 9.2

Tianna Hawkins

| 17

| 5

| 19.4

| 40.8

| 29.8

| 84.6

| 3.5

| 1.0

| 0.8

| 0.4

| 8.5

Kiara Leslie

| 19

| 10

| 21.8

| 35.2

| 36.2

| 92.3

| 3.0

| 1.1

| 0.5

| 0.4

| 5.5

Jacki Gemelos

| 12

| 1

| 16.1

| 31.3

| 20.7

| 50.0

| 1.4

| 1.2

| 0.3

| 0.1

| 3.2

Sug Sutton

| 12

| 0

| 9.4

| 36.4

| 29.4

| 71.4

| 0.8

| 1.0

| 0.1

| 0

| 2.8

Alaina Coates

| 20

| 0

| 9.9

| style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 52.9

| 0

| 53.8

| 2.8

| 0.5

| 0.4

| 0.2

| 2.5

Awards and honors

class="wikitable sortable sortable" style="text-align: center"

! style="{{NBA color cell|Washington Mystics}}" width="5%" | Recipient

! style="{{NBA color cell|Washington Mystics}}" width="9%" | Award

! style="{{NBA color cell|Washington Mystics}}" width="5%" | Date awarded

! style="{{NBA color cell|Washington Mystics}}" width="1%" class="unsortable" | Ref.

rowspan=3 | Myisha Hines-Allen

| rowspan=2 | Eastern Conference Player of the Week

| August 3, 2020

| {{cite web|url=https://www.wnba.com/news/stewart-hines-allen-earn-first-players-of-the-week-honors/|title=Stewart, Hines-Allen Earn First Players Of The Week Honors Of The Season|website=wnba.com|publisher=WNBA|date=August 3, 2020|accessdate=August 4, 2020}}

September 14, 2020

| {{Cite web|last=|first=|date=September 14, 2020|title=Hines-Allen, Wilson Earn Player Of The Week Honors For Week 7|url=https://www.wnba.com/news/hines-allen-wilson-earn-player-of-the-week-honors-for-week-7/|website=wnba.com|publisher=WNBA|accessdate=September 14, 2020}}

Eastern Conference Player of the Month – September

| September 15, 2020

| {{cite web|url=https://www.wnba.com/news/wnba-announces-players-of-the-month/|title=WNBA Announces Players Of The Month|website=wnba.com|publisher=WNBA|date=September 15, 2020|accessdate=September 17, 2020}}

Ariel Atkins

| 2nd Team All-Defense

| September 29, 2020

| {{cite web|url=https://www.wnba.com/news/two-atlanta-dream-players-and-seattle-storms-alysha-clark-headline-2020-wnba-all-defensive-team/|title=Two Atlanta Dream Players And Seattle Storm's Alysha Clark Headline 2020 WNBA All-Defensive Team|website=wnba.com|publisher=WNBA|date=September 29, 2020|access-date=September 29, 2020}}

Myisha Hines-Allen

| All-WNBA Second Team

| October 4, 2020

| {{cite web|url=https://www.wnba.com/news/aja-wilson-and-candace-parker-unanimously-selected-to-2020-all-wnba-first-team/|title=A'ja Wilson And Candace Parker Unanimously Selected To 2020 All-WNBA First Team|website=wnba.com|publisher=WNBA|date=October 4, 2020|accessdate=October 5, 2020}}

References

{{Reflist|}}