The Washington Mystics General Manager worked two jobs at the same time for about a month. A press conference has been rescheduled for Feb. 12.
The Washington Mystics have been getting heat from fans, and admittedly, a couple of not-so-optimistic posts by me over the last weekend. With WNBA free agency in full swing, why are the Mystics not publicly making moves? And on top of that, what is it taking so long for the team to introduce new General Manager Jamila Wideman and Head Coach Sydney Johnson?
The answer may surprise you somewhat. Wideman was working two jobs.
According to Kareem Copeland of The Washington Post, Wideman only recently started working full-time for the Mystics. After getting the job as the GM, she still worked her current job in the NBA as their Senior Vice President of Player Development until late January. Here is Copeland’s X post:
For those looking for a Mystics update (there isn’t much at the moment):
– No action in free agency, thus far.
– New GM Jamila Wideman is now full time with the organization. She was pulling double-duty and finished her NBA responsibilities late January.
– The new introductory…— Kareem Copeland (@kareemcopeland) February 4, 2025
First, let’s not accuse Copeland of anything. He is just posting what he knows.
With that said, I’m confused as to why Wideman still had to stay at the NBA for a month after getting hired by the Mystics. The WNBA free agency negotiation period happens in January. It puts her at a disadvantage compared to the other 12 GMs in the league.
In a separate note, Copeland wrote that the introductory press conference will be on Feb. 12. That seems logical because it will come after some new free agent signs with the Mystics and after the NBA trade deadline, which is this Thursday. Since Monumental Basketball President Michael Winger will introduce Wideman and Johnson at the same press conference, the Feb. 12 date is logical because it comes after much of the WNBA free agency and NBA trade deadline stress has subsided.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.