In recent days, the Washington Mystics had signaled that the organization was close to naming a new general manager and head coach. On Monday, they closed the deals, hiring Jamila Wideman as the team’s general manager and Sydney Johnson as head coach.
A former Stanford standout who was selected No. 3 overall in the 1997 WNBA Draft by the Los Angeles Sparks before playing for three teams across her four-year WNBA career, Wideman claims extensive executive experience in basketball, most recently working as senior vice president of player development for the NBA for the past six years.
Monumental Basketball president Michael Winger cited Wideman’s experience when speaking about how he envisions her elevating the franchise, noting:
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. Together with her player connectivity, big picture vision, and intimate knowledge of the global scope of our game, we feel strongly that Jamila will be a bedrock for our athletes, coaches, and staff as they pursue another championship for the DMV.
Wideman expressed excitement about returning to the WNBA, sharing:
I have strong roots in the WNBA and have had the…
