A few hours before the start of the WNBA season, Washington is showing its ambition. The franchise of the capital will finally be able to count on the return to top form of its best player: Elena Delle Donne.
The winger hopes to play her first full season since 2019. That year, she was voted MVP before leading the Mystics to the WNBA crown. Injured in the back then sick, she withdrew for the whole of the 2020 season. In 2021 and 2022, she only accumulated 28 regular season meetings.
Elena Delle Finally gives 100%
“The off-season went very well” she confides. “It’s the first time in a very long time that I haven’t been recovering and that I’ve been able to train. I’m stronger than I’ve ever been”.
The Mystics squad is almost the same as in 2019, the year of the title. Enough to nurture great ambitions, even if this year, the Las Vegas Aces and the New York Liberty are the main scarecrows.
Logically favorites to their own succession, the Aces have added Candace Parker to their ranks in the offseason! On the Liberty side, it was Breanna Stewart who landed to completely transform the face of the franchise. Also, with the additions of Jonquel Jones and Courtney Vandersloot, New York goes from an average team to an ogre that most want to avoid.
Despite everything, the Mystics want to believe in their chances, and Elena Delle Donne does not cut corners.
“Some people think it’s enough to fake the season and let these two fight for the title in the final” did she throw. “But we are looking forward to making our mark this season. In the best movies, the underdog always wins out. Do not forget it “.
A defensive DNA
Washington may have one thing other teams don’t have: cohesion. The core of the team knows each other very well, and the first quality of the team remains the defense. An essential weapon when aiming for the title.
Best defense in the league last season, Washington should be formidable again in this sector, in particular with the presence of Natasha Cloud and Ariel Atkins, both in the All-Defensive First Team.
“We are the best defensive team in this league” claims Natasha Cloud. “We even improved defensively by adding some elements. We must be honest, our attack was not excellent last year. When we make defensive stops, it makes us a better offensive transition team, and that’s what we want to be this year. In 2019, we won the title relying on transition play. So we’re going to focus on one side of the pitch and then we’re going to shoot forward and score on the other side of the pitch.”.
