The Mystics’ family affair is over, as the team has “mutually agreed to part ways” with GM Mike Thibault and head coach Eric Thibault.
“After extensive reflection and conversation, we have decided we are at a point in our competitive and evolutionary cycle to turn the team over to new leadership with a renewed vision to carve our path into the future of WNBA basketball," Monumental Basketball president Michael Winger said in a statement announcing the changes.
The Mystics now follow the path of the Wizards, who cleaned house when Winger was hired by Monumental before installing GM Will Dawkins and, eventually, interim turned full-time head coach Brian Keefe – and according to ESPN’s Alexa Philippou, the moves came because “the Thibaults' vision for the franchise's future and that of upper management were not aligned.”
Washington started last season 0-12 but made a miraculous run to finish 14-26, falling one game shy of the eighth and final WNBA playoff spot. They will move forward with two Top 6 draft picks in the 2025 WNBA Draft, as they acquired the No. 6 pick from Dallas in a 2023 trade and will have a Top 4 pick due to missing the playoffs – with a 10.4 percent chance of landing the No. 1 pick in the Nov. 17 lottery.
Mike Thibault is the winningest coach in WNBA history with 379 career wins, and joined the Mystics as both head coach an GM in 2013; he stepped away from the latter post after the 2022 season and gave the reins to his son, who was a long-time assistant, and Eric was 33-47 in two seasons.
"Coach Mike elevated the Mystics program to its proud status as a league leader in innovation, the standard-bearer in player care, and a model franchise, and Coach Eric is a skilled coach and equally talented motivator," Winger said. "We are grateful for Mike's commitment, passion and leadership and wish him well, and our players are fortunate to have played for Eric these past two seasons, as will many other players in this league for decades ahead."