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The Washington Mystics are an American professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C. The team was founded in 1998 and competes in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) as part of the Eastern Conference. The Mystics have qualified for the WNBA Playoffs 13 times in their 23 seasons and won their first championship in 2019. The team has been home to notable players such as two-time WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne and Chamique Holdsclaw.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Team Name | Washington Mystics |
| Sport | Basketball |
| League | Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) |
| Conference | Eastern Conference |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Seasons | 28 (1998-2025) |
| Record | 408-520 |
| Win Percentage | .440 |
| Playoff Appearances | 15 |
| Championships | 1 |
| Stadium | CareFirst Arena, Capital One Arena |
| Capacity | 4,200 (CareFirst Arena), 20,356 (Capital One Arena) |
| Owner | Ted Leonsis (also owns Washington Wizards) |
| Managing Partner | Sheila C. Johnson (first Black woman to own a WNBA team) |
| Head Coach | Mike Thibault (hired in 2013) |
| Notable Players | Elena Delle Donne, Chamique Holdsclaw, Alana Beard, Crystal Langhorne |
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What You'll Learn
Washington Mystics player Kiki Iriafen scored 23 points against the Dallas Wings
The Washington Mystics are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C. They compete in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) as part of the Eastern Conference. The team was founded in 1998 and has since qualified for the WNBA Playoffs 13 times.
On Sunday, August 10, 2025, Washington Mystics player Kiki Iriafen scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds against the Dallas Wings, leading her team to a 91-78 victory. This was a career-high for Iriafen, who returned to the game with 6:36 remaining in the second quarter after briefly exiting to the locker room in the first. The Mystics ended a four-game losing streak with this win, outscoring the Wings 33-17 in the third quarter and 28-20 in the fourth.
Iriafen was supported by strong performances from her teammates. Sonia Citron scored 17 of her 18 points in the second half, Stefanie Dolson scored 14, and reserve Emily Engstler added 11. This win improved the Mystics' record to 14-17, while the Wings dropped to 8-24.
The Mystics have had notable players over the years, including two-time WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne, Chamique Holdsclaw, Alana Beard, and Crystal Langhorne. The team is owned by Ted Leonsis through Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which also owns the Washington Wizards.
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The Mystics' first championship win was in 2019
The Washington Mystics are an American professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C. The Mystics compete in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) as part of the Eastern Conference. The team was founded before the 1998 season and is owned by Ted Leonsis through Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which also owns the Washington Wizards, the Mystics' NBA counterpart.
The Mystics have qualified for the WNBA Playoffs 13 times in their 23 seasons of existence. Despite this success, the Mystics were the only current WNBA franchise that had never made it to the WNBA Finals until 2018. They lost in the semifinals twice, to New York in 2002 and to the eventual champion Minnesota Lynx in 2017. After reaching the WNBA Finals for the first time in 2018, they won their first championship in 2019.
The 2019 WNBA season was the 22nd for the Washington Mystics. The season began on May 25, 2019, against the Connecticut Sun. The Mystics set a franchise record for wins at 23, with a victory over the Dallas Wings on August 31. They entered the playoffs as the top-seeded team and defeated the Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals.
The Mystics finally earned their first-ever championship by erasing multiple deficits in the final tiebreaker game, before breaking through in the crucial final quarter to hold on to an 89–78 victory against the Connecticut Sun. Emma Meesseman was honored as the Finals MVP.
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The Mystics are part of the Eastern Conference
The Washington Mystics are an American professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C. The team was founded in 1998 and has been a member of the Eastern Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) ever since. The Mystics are owned by Ted Leonsis through Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which also owns the Washington Wizards, the NBA counterpart of the Mystics. The team plays in the CareFirst Arena in the Congress Heights neighbourhood of Washington, D.C., with a capacity of 4,200 for a sell-out crowd.
The Mystics have had a varied history in the WNBA, with some successful seasons and others that were less so. They finished their inaugural season in 1998 with a league-worst record of 3-27. However, the following year, they drafted University of Tennessee forward Chamique Holdsclaw, who helped turn the team's fortunes around. With Holdsclaw on board, the Mystics made their first playoff appearance in 2000. In 2002, they advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals but were defeated by the New York Liberty.
The Mystics continued to experience a mix of winning and losing seasons over the next few years. In 2005, the team was sold to an ownership group that included Sheila C. Johnson, a co-founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET). Johnson became the first Black woman to own a WNBA team. The Mystics reached the Eastern Conference semifinals in 2006 and again in 2009, despite posting a losing record that year. In 2010, they tied for the best record in the Eastern Conference but were again stopped in the conference semifinals.
The Mystics finally broke through and won their first-ever WNBA championship in 2019, defeating the Sun in the finals. This was a significant achievement for the franchise, as they had been the only current WNBA franchise to have never made it to the Finals until 2018. The Mystics have continued to compete in the Eastern Conference, with varying levels of success, and remain a prominent part of the WNBA.
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The Mystics qualified for the WNBA Playoffs in 13 of 23 seasons
The Washington Mystics are an American professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C. The team was founded before the 1998 season and competes in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) as part of the Eastern Conference.
The Mystics have qualified for the WNBA Playoffs 13 times in their 23 seasons. They first made the playoffs in 2000, with a 14-18 record, but were swept by the New York Liberty in the first round. The Mystics made the playoffs again in 2002 with a 17-15 record, sweeping the Charlotte Sting in the first round but losing to New York in the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Mystics did not make the playoffs in 2007, despite a 16-18 record, as they lost the tiebreaker to the New York Liberty. They also failed to make the playoffs in 2008, finishing last in the East. In 2009, the Mystics made a surprising start to the season, going 3-0, and ultimately reached the playoffs with a 16-18 record. However, they were swept in the first round by the Indiana Fever.
After a disappointing 2016 season, where they finished 13-21, the Mystics showed promise in 2017, reaching the semifinals but losing to the eventual champion Minnesota Lynx. In 2018, the Mystics reached the WNBA Finals for the first time and won their first championship in 2019. The Mystics also control their playoff destiny for the 2024 season.
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The Mystics' first season was in 1998
The Washington Mystics are an American professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C. The team was founded before the 1998 season and competes in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) as part of the Eastern Conference. The Mystics played their first game in 1998, making it the team's inaugural season.
The Mystics were officially announced as a WNBA expansion team on November 11, 1997, with the team's name being revealed on December 16. The team is owned by Ted Leonsis through Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which also owns the Washington Wizards, the Mystics' NBA counterpart. The team plays in the CareFirst Arena in the Congress Heights neighbourhood of Washington, D.C.
The Mystics had a disappointing first season, finishing with a WNBA-worst record of 3-27, despite being led by Olympian Nikki McCray. The team failed to make the playoffs that year, but they showed improvement in the following seasons. In 1999, they drafted University of Tennessee star Chamique Holdsclaw, and in 2000, they made the playoffs with a 14-18 record.
The Mystics played their first home game at Capital One Arena in 2019, and they have since played additional home games there in 2022, 2023, and 2024. The arena has a capacity of 20,356 for basketball games, significantly larger than their previous home venue. The Mystics have a dedicated fan base, leading the WNBA in home attendance in 1998 and several subsequent years, including 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2009.
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Frequently asked questions
The Washington Mystics have a win-loss record of 408-520, with a win percentage of .440.
Some notable Washington Mystic players include Chamique Holdsclaw, Crystal Langhorne, Elena Delle Donne, and Alana Beard.
The Washington Mystics play their home games at the CareFirst Arena in the Congress Heights neighborhood of Washington, D.C. They have also played some home games at the Capital One Arena in previous years.
