Story By: Erin Zollars
Photos By: Sol Tucker
Washington, D.C–
With the Mystics failing to get things done all the way back to 2002 season, bringing a big name player to the team is exactly what they needed. Well it doesn’t get any bigger than WNBA Champion Elena Delle Donne to their roster.
After missing the postseason by going 13-21 and finishing at the bottom of the six-team Eastern Conference last season, the Mystics underwent a major overhaul. That included trading for Delle Donne and adding free-agent guard Kristi Toliver; they re-signed guard Tayler Hill, who was also at Friday’s event.
“It’s just all about putting it together now. Teams all have to go through growing pains. … You don’t just show up and win right away. You have to go through those growing pains,” Delle Donne said. “I hope we don’t have to go through too many growing pains. We’d like to get that championship as soon as possible.”
Even Mystics Head Coach Mike Thibault was excited about what he has in his hands, enough to dream about it his sleep.
During his opening remarks, Thibault referred to the pair of players flanking him and said: “You’re looking at two people that are going to hopefully lead us to the championship, at some point, that we’re all looking for.”
Several minutes later, he seemed to want to temper others’ outlook.
“It’s not a fantasy league. You don’t just take those stats that each (person) brings individually and just say they’re automatically going to work,” Thibault said. “We’re going to go through … development as a team. You grow up as a team.”
