SPORT NEWS: Sydney Johnson Named Mystics Head Coach, Jamila Wideman Appointed GM Amid WNBA Offseason Moves.giang

The Washington Mystics announced their new leadership moving forward, with Sydney Johnson becoming the new head coach and Jamila Wideman taking over as general manager.

Johnson was most recently an assistant with the Chicago Sky. His coaching career includes stops at Princeton and Fairfield.

Wideman played four seasons in the WNBA and was there for the league’s inaugural campaign in 1997. She became the NBA’s senior vice president of player development in 2018.

“Jamila’s breadth of experience, range of core competencies, and passion for developing the whole athlete, makes her the ideal person to usher in the new era of Mystics Basketball,” Monumental Basketball president Michael Winger said Monday. “Together with her player connectivity, big picture vision, and intimate knowledge of the global scope of our game, we feel strongly that Jamila will be a bedrock for our athletes, coaches, and staff as they pursue another championship for the DMV.”

“Similarly, Sydney brings an exceptional combination of acumen, tenacity, and empathy that will elevate our play and galvanize the team around the new direction for this championship franchise. His deep love of basketball and passion for uplifting others make him a natural fit in our greater Monumental Basketball ecosystem.”

The Mystics are embarking on a new era in more ways than one.

Mike Thibault had been with the organization since 2013, first as the head coach and general manager before moving full time into the front office after the 2022 season. His son, Eric, succeeded him as coach.

The Thibaults’ departures could also signal an official break with two-time WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne as well. Washington applied the core player designation to Delle Donne last offseason, which granted the team exclusive negotiating rights with her, and it can utilize that option again after she sat out all of 2024.

Assuming Delle Donne is ready to return in 2025, retaining a 35-year-old forward who has battled persistent back trouble in recent years wouldn’t make a lot of sense for a franchise that seems to be starting over.

For Johnson and Wideman, the overriding priority next season is laying the groundwork for the future while fielding a competitive squad.

Aaliyah Edwards, Sika Koné and Jade Melbourne are the only players under contract in 2026, while Shakira Austin will be a restricted free agent. The Mystics will add some more young cost-controlled talent through the 2025 WNBA draft, where their picks include No. 4 and 6 overall selections.

Wideman will have a lot of flexibility to tailor the roster for either a true rebuild or a quick turnaround in 2026, when free agency will provide teams with an abundance of ready-made talent.