| 2018 Washington Mystics season | |
|---|---|
| Coach | Mike Thibault |
| Arena | Capital One Arena |
| Attendance | 6,136 per game |
| Results | |
| Record | 22–12 (.647) |
| Place | 2nd (Eastern) |
| Playoff finish | 3rd seed; lost in WNBA Finals to Seattle Storm 0–3. |
| Team Leaders | |
| Points | Elena Delle Donne – 20.7 ppg |
| Rebounds | Elena Delle Donne – 7.2 rpg |
| Assists | Natasha Cloud – 4.6 apg |
| Media | |
| Television | NBC Sports Washington and Monumental Sports Network |
The 2018 WNBA season is the 21st for the Washington Mystics of the Women's National Basketball Association which began on May 20, 2018. The Mystics qualified for the WNBA Playoffs and reached the WNBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.[1]
The Mystics started the season strong with a 5–1 record in May. Their only loss came to eventual league champions Seattle. However, the team couldn't carry this momentum into June, where they went 5–5. The Mystics lost 4 of their first 5 games in June, but turned it around in the second half of the month, winning 4 of their last 5. The up and down season continued into July, where they again went 5–5. The Mystics finished the season just like they started it, strongly. With a 7–1 August record, the team secured a first round playoff bye, and the third overall seed. The Mystics won seven straight games before dropping their season finale against Minnesota. Their final record of 22–12 tied a franchise best, previously set in 2010.
The Mystics hosted a second round playoff game against the Los Angeles Sparks and won 96–64. This win saw them advance to the semifinals where they met the Atlanta Dream. In the best of five series, the Mystics won the final two games to advance to the 2018 WNBA Finals against the Storm. An injury to star Elena Delle Donne in the semifinals hampered her in the finals, and the Mystics were swept 0–3.