The Washington Mystics hired Jamila Wideman as the franchise’s new general manager and Sydney Johnson as the team’s coach on Monday.
Wideman joins the Mystics after spending six years at the NBA league office, where she most recently served as senior vice president of player development. Johnson has worked with USA Basketball over the past five years and was an assistant coach with the Chicago Sky last season.
“Jamila’s breadth of experience, range of core competencies, and passion for developing the whole athlete, makes her the ideal person to usher in the new era of Mystics Basketball,” team president Michael Winger said. “Similarly, Sydney brings an exceptional combination of acumen, tenacity and empathy that will elevate our play and galvanize the team around the new direction for this championship franchise.”
Wideman was part of the inaugural WNBA draft class, going to the Los Angeles Sparks with the third pick. She also played with the Portland Fire and Cleveland Rockers.
“I have strong roots in the WNBA and have had the privilege of playing with, working alongside, and witnessing the incredible people who are the athletes at the center of the game,” she said. “The very best I have seen share some core qualities: curiosity, humility, and…
