The biggest question the Washington Mystics face in 2025, regardless of who their General Manager (or shotcaller) is, is whether to core long-time franchise player Elena Delle Donne. In 2024, then-GM Mike Thibault cored her, and she ultimately decided to sit the season out when no other team was willing to trade for her at a supermax salary.
This season, the General Manager is Jamila Wideman, and the shotcaller is Michael Winger. There haven’t been many changes so far for the Mystics, but the few things we have seen indicate that they will deconstruct. I’ll write more on that tomorrow.
Earlier this week, the WNBA released the list of unrestricted and restricted free agents for all of its 13 teams as well as reserved players. The league also released its list of core players. Six players were cored, including Satou Sabally of the Dallas Wings and Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty. But the Mystics quietly decided not to core Delle Donne. Kareem Copeland of The Washington Post wrote last year that the team still had the option of coring her this season.
The decision to NOT core Delle Donne is not unexpected. If the Mystics were to core her, while she COULD play for the Mystics with a supermax salary, she would likely be unhappy to play in Washington for a team that’s rebuilding. Furthermore, if no teams wanted to trade for Delle Donne at a supermax salary in 2024, why would this change in 2025 when she hasn’t played professionally since she decided to take a break? Finally, coring Delle Donne after knowing that no team wanted her at that supermax salary in 2024 would give a perception that the Mystics are trying to “hold her hostage.” The team is already about to rebuild, to the disapproval of many fans. Why … make things look worse?
It’s unclear as to whether Delle Donne will try to play for another team or will decide to retire. But the Mystics have rightfully allowed her to make the decision that is best for her personal and professional goals.
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