Monumental Basketball President Michael Winger announced that Washington Mystics yesterday General Manager Mike Thibault and Head Coach Eric Thibault have mutually agreed to part ways. Mike Thibault came from the Connecticut Sun in 2012 and deserves a lot of credit for changing the direction of the Mystics, leading them to their first title in 2019. But since then, it’s been an arduous process with two first-round exits and three missed playoff appearances.
“After extensive reflection and conversation, we have decided we are at a point in our competitive and evolutionary cycle to turn the team over to new leadership with a renewed vision to carve our path into the future of WNBA basketball,” stated Michael Winger Monumental Basketball President.
The Washington Mystics, This season, was something. There could be many titles, but one that stands out is “What Happens Next?” It was due to happen rebuilding the Mystics that led to the departure of Natasha Cloud [Free Agency] and Elena Della Donne [Sat out for the season]. Many had written off the Mystics. With all the narratives that outsiders ran with, from “The Mystics Did Elena Della Donne Dirty” to “Tanking for Paige [Bueckers]”
The reality is this: it was time for a new chapter for the Mystics, which comes with the Territory. While some would argue maybe another year, and see where this goes, however with WNBPA opting out of the CBA, and WNBA has more eyes on it than before? It is best for the Mystics to turn the page.
Going into 2025, the job search for a Head Coach and General Manager will be interesting. The Mystics have two first-round picks, and one of those picks is a lottery pick, which has a 10.4 percent change, and the 6th overall pick via Atlanta.
The only issue is that Winger wants to rebuild through the draft before 2026? Why understand rebuilding through the WNBA draft is not an intelligent decision, and realistically, what would the Mystics get? Especially as the WNBA is preparing for a transition period of expansion. Let me put it this way: Winger is trying to build the Mystics, as he is doing with the Wizards. Blowing it up now, as the WNBPA just recently opted out of their CBA with a new Collective Bargaining Agreement in 2026, is where the free agency will be significant. Blowing the Mystics up now would not make sense.
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