This is a pretty disruptive time in the WNBA. If there’s one step the Mystics shouldn’t switch around, it’s this one.
Earlier this week, the Connecticut Sun announced that they let go of head coach Stephanie White, despite a 28-12 season and a WNBA semifinals appearance in the 2024 season. When you add that six other WNBA head coaches, including former Washington Mystics head coach Eric Thibault were fired or parted ways since the end of the season, it’s safe to say that there’s going to be a lot of changes in 2025.
The Mystics aren’t just looking for a new head coach. Eric’s father, Mike, was the General Manager, and he’s no longer with the Mystics either. That makes Monumental Basketball President Michael Winger the de-facto Mystics General Manager, even though Winger has never been involved with the WNBA until taking his current role.
So, if you’re Winger, or Monumental Sports & Entertainment CEO Ted Leonsis, do you start looking for a head coach right now? White has a 92-56 record as a WNBA head coach, led the Indiana Fever to the 2015 WNBA Finals, and had two strong seasons in Connecticut. Former Los Angeles Sparks head coach Curt Miller was White’s predecessor at Connecticut where he led the Sun to two Finals appearances, and it’s hard to blame him for the Sparks’ 8-32 record in LA this past season. They would be among the bigger head coaching names in any such search.
Here’s my take: Let’s get the General Manager search done first. Worry about the head coach later.
Winger already learned the hard way with not having a head coach of his liking with the Wizards. He had his new Wizards General Manager with Will Dawkins, but Wes Unseld, Jr. was a holdover from the previous front office led by Tommy Sheppard. Perhaps Winger and Dawkins wanted Unseld fired right away but ownership wouldn’t allow it. Ultimately, Unseld was transferred to a front office position in Jan. 24, and now he’s an assistant coach for the Chicago Bulls. And from hindsight, perhaps Brian Keefe was the head coach Winger and Unseld wanted all along. We’ll see how that rebuild plays out over the next several years.
As for the Mystics, I don’t see the point in hiring a head coach BEFORE the general manager when the former is a subordinate to the latter. If the right front office leadership isn’t in place first, the head coach won’t be as successful in my opinion.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m tempted to see a White or Miller coaching the Mystics. Then again, I also wouldn’t mind seeing them transition to the front office as a general manager.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.