NFL
By: Nick Andre
The Washington Mystics have been one of the more interesting teams in the WNBA. They went from being crowned WNBA champions in 2019 to a team who can barely sneak into the playoffs. However, as the 2023 season is underway, there are high expectations for the Mystics to establish themselves as playoff contenders again. As their franchise star, Elena Delle Donne mentioned, there will be no days of rest from her.
“I’m by far the strongest I’ve ever been” Delle Donne mentioned in an interview. It’s been an uphill battle for the two-time MVP to return to high-level play. While dealing with injuries and situations off the court, Mystics fans are ecstatic to have Delle Donne 100 percent healthy. Think about it, the world was cheated out of a possible Elena Delle Donne-Tina Charles frontcourt duo. However, the past is the past and it’s time to look forward to this season.
Delle Donne has played a total of 28 regular season games over the previous three seasons. During the 2022 season, it was a thing of beauty to witness her compete with her young teammates. The roster may not be built to win a championship right away but is filled with talent who have a bright future. Delle Donne averaged 17.2 points per game to go with 6.3 rebounds on 48 percent shooting. Not only was her scoring able to lead the Mystics into the playoffs but also her leadership on and off the court.
The 2022 Playoffs were a definition of Elena Delle Donne playing at her very best. In two games, she averaged 19 points per game on 50 percent shooting from the floor. It was beautiful watching her go to work on the block, showing tremendous footwork with the ability to get to her spots. Delle Donne needed to answer the call in a duel against former Seattle Storm forward Breanna Stewart. Despite being swept, the Mystics organization was impressed with what they saw from their franchise player.
The 2022 Playoffs were a reminder that Elena Delle Donne was still a superstar in the WNBA. With that being said, she feels as if she has more to prove moving forward. During Media Day, Delle Donne shows excitement to be a part of this year’s Mystics team. While the WNBA world is excited to watch the Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty, Delle Donne mentions to “not sleep on the underdog” in reference to this year’s Mystics.
Playing alongside Delle Donne this season includes Shakira Austin, Natasha Cloud, Ariel Atkins, Myisha Hines-Allen, and a few others. These are only a few notable players who will share the floor with the star for most of the season. Delle Donne already has a feel for playing alongside these talents the past few years as they only look to capitalize off their chemistry. Also, the Mystics elevated their defense in the off-season by signing guard Brittney Sykes and adding Amanda Zahui B. to their frontcourt. Quiet as kept, these off-season moves could help elevate the Mystics’ playoff hopes moving forward.
Considering how she sounded during Media Day, Elena Delle Donne is all in on the Mystics. She’s the healthiest she has been in a long time which means she expects to dominate on the basketball court. However, it’s not about her ability to sustain her averages. Delle Donne wants to continue to be a leader for the younger players and help them grow into better versions of themselves.
