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What does success look like for the Washington Mystics in the 2023 WNBA Season?

By Lukas Petridis

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 10: Elena Delle Donne #11 of the Washington Mystics celebrates with Natasha Cloud #9 after winning the 2019 WNBA Championship against the Connecticut Sun at St Elizabeths East Entertainment & Sports Arena on October 10, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 10: Elena Delle Donne #11 of the Washington Mystics celebrates with Natasha Cloud #9 after winning the 2019 WNBA Championship against the Connecticut Sun at St Elizabeths East Entertainment & Sports Arena on October 10, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /
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The Washington Mystics 2023 WNBA season is looking to be one of the best winning situations in the league. What success looks like is simple — competing to be the best.

The Washington Mystics offseason was accompanied by few headlines, contrasting most of the league ahead of the 2023 WNBA season. With much of their core and starting lineup still in D.C., continuity will be their greatest strength coming into this season. Of course, replacing the role that Alysha Clark fulfilled is something they will need to address but this is something that may be done by committee.

Although their season ended with a sweep at the hands of the Storm, they didn’t go out without a fight. They were characteristically solid in their sole playoff series and coming up against a firing Jewell Loyd, Breanna Stewart and Sue Bird is no easy task. Game 1 saw everybody outclassed by Elena Delle Donne who suggested that perhaps her streak of unlucky health is over and an MVP case for 2023 is on the cards.

The Washington Mystics roster has been busy this WNBA offseason

There may be more momentum heading into 2023 from the end of the last WNBA season than fans might think, and some of their players have been busy since then, too. Shakira Austin and Ariel Atkins were a part of bringing the U.S. gold in the 2022 FIBA World Cup in Australia, where Tianna Hawkins recently won the WNBL championship with the Townsville Fire.

This roster has experience and players who are willing to find experience outside of their duties with Washington. The Mystics need to view the start of the season like it’s their playoffs. If they can break away from the pack early with an 8-2 record in the first quarter of the season then it will set a standard that a team led by Natasha Cloud and EDD won’t allow them to fall below.

The top end of the league has never been stronger and Washington needs to show the world why they belong there. Just four seasons ago they were champions with six rotational pieces still making appearances in a Mystics jersey every night. There are juggernauts in New York and Las Vegas that are favored to take out the top two spots in the WNBA but Washington should see itself right there with them.

There are no more questions to answer, the Mystics can just go out there and play. The rotation has sorted itself out and the players know how to play with each other. Their young players are only getting better and more dependable and being led by Cloud and Delle Donne steers your organization in the right direction.

Aiming for a 30-10 record would have been best for winning percentage (and wins) when compared to last season’s 36-game schedule and Washington is more than qualified to dominate the regular season. This goes without saying, but homecourt advantage in the playoffs would be another indication of success in the nation’s capital and what would be an achievement for most teams is merely a by-product of the success the Mystics are built for.

The WNBA’s fanbase is set to grow in the upcoming season and the team in D.C. has an opportunity to show new fans what they’ve been missing out on. They may not be the reason you decided to turn a game on, but they’ll be sure to be a reason you won’t turn it off.

Momentum and continuity are the keys to success for the Washington Mystics ahead of the 2023 WNBA season.

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