Thibault Father-Son Duo Out as Mystics GM, Coach

The Mystics have decided to clean house. While one father and son duo were getting celebrated and making history in the NBA, the other was getting handed their walking papers. The Washington Mystics are parting ways with coach Eric Thibault and general manager Mike Thibault, the franchise announced Wednesday.

Eric Thibault is the fifth WNBA coach to be relieved of his duties this offseason, joining Dallas, Atlanta, Chicago and Los Angeles. He took over for his father after the 2022 campaign. He spent a decade cutting his teeth as an assistant coach with the Mystics, including four as associate head coach.

The Mystics closed out this season with an underwhelming 14-26 record, just missing out on the playoffs. Washington began the year in a gigantic hole with 12 straight losses and dealt with injuries to key players, Shakira Austin and Brittney Sykes. The franchise was also shaken to its core and underwent major changes this offseason with Elena Delle Donne sitting out and Natasha Cloud leaving for Phoenix via free agency.

“After extensive reflection and conversation, we have decided we are at a point in our competitive and evolutionary cycle to turn the team over to new leadership with a renewed vision to carve our path into the future of WNBA basketball,” Monumental Basketball President Michael Winger said. “Coach Mike elevated the Mystics program to its proud status as a league leader in innovation, the standard bearer in player care, and a model franchise.”

Mike Thibault, the winningest coach in league history with 379 career wins, first joined the organization as the general manager and head coach ahead of the 2013 campaign, ultimately leading the Mystics to their franchise-first championship in 2019. Under Mike, the Mystics made eight postseason appearances, including back-to-back Finals runs in 2018 and 2019. He earned the league’s WNBA Coach of the Year award in 2013.

“He built and coached the championship team, developed high performing players, and pioneered many of the processes teams use today in building rosters and organizations. His fingerprints are all over this franchise and will be for years to come,” Winger said. “We are grateful for Mike’s commitment, passion, and leadership and wish him well. Coach Eric is a skilled coach and equally talented motivator. Our players are fortunate to have played for Eric these past two seasons, as will many other players in this league for decades ahead.”

The Mystics have a 10.4% chance of earning the No. 1 pick in next month’s 2025 WNBA draft lottery (Nov. 17 at 5 p.m. ET). The expansion draft for the Golden State Valkyries will take place soon after on December 6.

All four draft lottery teams, the Mystics, Dallas Wings, Chicago Sky and Los Angeles Sparks, are all in the same boat and currently looking for a head coach, with the Wings and Mystics also looking for a general manager. There is a fifth head-coaching vacancy at the Atlanta Dream, who were the final team to make the playoffs.