The Mystics owner told Front Office Sports the Mystics have made big strides over 20 years. But fans want a bigger arena and some former players believe Washington fell behind on player resources.
As the WNBA experiences unprecedented growth, the Washington Mystics find themselves at a crossroads. In a recent interview with Annie Costabile of Front Office Sports, Monumental Sports & Entertainment CEO Ted Leonsis reflected on the franchise’s progress and the hurdles it faces in keeping pace with the league’s momentum. The video of the interview is above.
Leonsis, who acquired the Mystics in 2005 for $10 million, acknowledged the team’s advancements, such as the establishment of a dedicated practice facility, a dedicated full-time RSN (Monumental Sports Network) providing pre and post game coverage for all Mystics games and their acquisition of promising draft picks like Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen, and Georgia Amoore. He emphasized the importance of strategic growth, stating, “We have to see what the reality is… this phenomenon that we’re seeing, it’s around a couple of teams.”
Despite these strides, concerns have been raised about the team’s current home venue, CareFirst Arena, which seats fewer than 5,000 fans. With the league’s surge in popularity, particularly following the arrival of star players like Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, other teams have begun selling out larger NBA-sized arenas. Future WNBA teams like the Toronto Tempo and the yet-to-be-named Portland team, will play in NBA arenas as well.
The Mystics, however, remain tied to their current lease at CareFirst Arena, something Costabile confronted Leonsis about in the FOS interview (which is embedded above.
And here is where Leonsis stated what his long term goal is for the Mystics. He wants to see them back at Capital One Arena full time at some point after renovations finish. And yes, he wants them there even with the Washington Wizards and Capitals taking many of the dates in the fall and winter.
But Leonsis also expressed caution about moving to a larger venue full-time. “If you sold 8,000 tickets instead of 5,000, but you’re playing in a 20,000-seat arena, you don’t feel as successful.”
To accommodate growing fan interest during Capital One Arena’s renovation, the Mystics have scheduled select games at including CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore and EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, Va. Those games have quickly sold out.
Costabile’s interview of Leonsis also didn’t include one part which shows Washington in a negative light, but it was noted in her article.
Former players like Natasha Cloud and Ariel Atkins insinuated that the team’s investment in player resources and practice facilities was falling behind other teams, mainly those with newer ownership, such as Joe Tsai of the New York Liberty as one example. In fact, both Cloud and Atkins claim that Leonsis told them after the 2019 season that the Mystics were only worth about “one percent” of Monumental Sports & Entertainment and that the Washington Wizards took priority with player services.
Monumental Sports responded to those comments in a statement that such a comment was made, but it was out of context. Rather, that comment was meant to highlight how much the Mystics had for growth. Growth that is now happening.
As the WNBA continues its rapid growth, the Mystics face the challenge of balancing their legacy with the demands of a modern, evolving league. A league that quite frankly, is moving very quickly.
There are many things that Leonsis and Monumental Sports should be proud of over their 20 years owning the Mystics. However, the services they provided the Mystics in 2019 during a championship season is not what will keep them ahead in 2025 and the long term.