2024 Mystics Media Day: Head Coach Eric Thibault looks for players to step up this season

It’s always been evident and clear lately that the Washington Mystics are in a rebuild mode. That just makes this upcoming season that much more fun and entertaining as eyes are on who will bring the energy and scoring. Training camp has begun and the Mystics Media Day took off on Monday, April 29 beginning with Head Coach Eric Thibault.

Thibault is going into his second season as a head coach with the Mystics and he’s very focused on whom on this team will step up and take advantage of a leadership role as well as who wants the lingering opportunities that are available such as scoring and minutes. One thing Thibault made clear was there are no promises, so no matter what year you are anything is up for grabs long as you show you want it.

“There’s going to be an opportunity…the theme has been competing so minutes and involvement in the offense and everything is there for the taking for people that want to step up and earn it,” he said. “Nothing has been promised to anybody on the roster. We hope a lot of people make a jump and growth but it’s going to be earned.”

Two players, Thibault mentioned, should see an increase and that would be Shakira Austin and Ariel Atkins who both dealt with injuries last season. Austin sustained a hip strain in June last year and was out for two months before returning in August with limited minutes. That made things worse as she went out again and had hip surgery in December for a torn labrum. Atkins dealt with an ankle sprain that had her out for a couple weeks.

What has helped this team normally is having voices that are very outspoken. For Washington it was Elena Delle Donne and Natasha Cloud who were known for keeping everyone together. Cloud is now with the Phoenix Suns and Delle Donne is taking a break.

Thibault said to make up for them not behind here it’s going to be a lot of people who could step into being that leader on and off the court. Players like Cloud, Delle Donne, Kristi Toliver and Tianna Hawkins he said all had to grow into such roles as leaders when they were here. Thibault said it’s hard to force something like that and still set people up for success.

“Ariel and Slim and Shakira are the core group that’s been here. Then you bring in people like Stef Dolson who really know the league…they won a championship,” he said. “She is not afraid to speak up. Other people Karlie Samuelson…Julie Vanloo…experienced players who are about the right things. So I don’t think it’s about one or two people dominating the room or being the loudest. It’s going to be a collective.”

Thibault even went on to say that those who’ve been here and are still key pieces to the team will still have that responsibility put on them to steadily speak up when it’s the right time.