Washington Mystics

The WNBA's Washington Mystics announced they postponed their championship parade as a result of the coronavirus pandemic:

"The evolving coronavirus pandemic that has led to the postponement of the WNBA season has understandably also caused the postponement of the parade for our historic championship. We will continue to work closely with the WNBA, Mayor Bowser and public health officials as we look forward to a time when our team can safely play again. We continue to be inspired by the support of our tremendous community of fans, and we look forward to celebrating together in the District of Champions."

Kareem Copeland of the Washington Post noted the parade was initially scheduled for May 12.

There is no makeup date scheduled yet.

This comes after the WNBA on April 3 announced plans to postpone the season that was scheduled to start May 15.

The Mystics are coming off back-to-back appearances in the WNBA Finals, losing in 2018 to the Seattle Storm and then defeating the Connecticut Sun in a thrilling five-game series last year. It was the Mystics' first championship in franchise history.

The Washington Mystics have officially re-signed 2019 MVP Elena Delle Donne.

"Elena is the most impactful player in the history of the Washington Mystics and her commitment to us three years ago set the stage for us to make our championship run possible," head coach and general manager Mike Thibault said in a statement. 

Delle Donne averaged 19.5 points and 8.2 rebounds and became the first WNBA player to join the 50-40-90 club one season ago, leading the Mystics to their first league title. The 30-year-old was an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

Thibault didn't disclose the full terms of the deal but confirmed Delle Donne is under contract for four years.

She was one of three stars coming off the books for Washington. Kristi Toliver signed with the Los Angeles Sparks on the first day of free agency, making it even more important for the Mystics to retain Delle Donne and Finals MVP Emma Meesseman, who has yet to agree to a deal.

Thibault told the Washington Post's Ava Wallace that Meesseman has provided a verbal agreement to return.

Delle Donne's status was hardly in doubt.

The Wilmington, Delaware, native requested a trade from the Chicago Sky in 2017, and her move to Washington, D.C., brought her much closer to home.

The Mystics have been one of the league's best teams over the past three years as well, reaching the Finals in 2018 along with their WNBA championship in 2019.

The loss of Toliver—coupled with her move to another contender—will lead some to question whether Washington can successfully repeat.

The single-elimination format in the first two rounds of the playoffs and best-of-five format in the semifinals and Finals open the door for more postseason upsets. The Sparks were the last team to go back to back in 2001 and 2002.

Assuming the Mystics hold onto Meesseman, they'll have the pieces to make another Finals run with the bulk of their squad coming back.

Washington Mystics forward Elena Delle Donne was diagnosed with a herniated disc on Oct. 2 following Game 2 of the WNBA Finals. But after the Washington Mystics beat the Connecticut Sun 89-78 in Game 5 Thursday night to win the franchise's first championship, Natasha Cloud spilled some tea.  

"I'm about to drop this bomb on y'all," the Mystics guard told reporters while Delle Donne giggled and covered her face with her hands. "Elena not only has one herniated disc. She has three."

"The medical staff is gonna kill you right now," Delle Donne quipped.

Despite the herniated discs, plural, Delle Donne contributed 21 points, nine rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal. 

Delle Donne was playing through a broken nose and a bone bruise in her right knee, too.

Once the confetti fell, though, her pain seemed to at least temporarily subside as she fully indulged in the celebration:

Delle Donne's motivation was compounded by the fact that the Mystics were swept in last year's Finals by the Seattle Storm, a series in which she was hindered by the bone bruise in her knee.

This is Delle Donne's first NBA championship. The 30-year-old arrived in D.C. ahead of the 2017 season after the Chicago Sky granted her trade request. Following Game 5, she reflected on her decision:

In addition to leading the Mystics to their first title, Delle Donne was named the league MVP while becoming the first player to secure a 50/40/90 season, which signifies at least 50 percent shooting from the field, 40 percent from three and 90 percent from the free-throw line. 

She was also named WNBA MVP in 2015 with the Sky.

Elena Delle Donne's status for Game 3 of the 2019 WNBA Finals remains up in the air as she battles a back injury. 

The Washington Mystics announced Wednesday the 2019 MVP suffered a small disc herniation and is undergoing treatment. The team will update her availability on Saturday.

Delle Donne was limited to 3:28 before leaving in the first quarter of the Mystics' 99-87 Game 2 defeat. Although she probably wouldn't have been able to neutralize Jonquel Jones (32 points, 18 rebounds) inside, her shooting would've helped Washington keep pace offensively.

The back injury is a particularly cruel blow because Delle Donne was limited in the 2018 Finals as well with a bone bruise in her left knee. She took part in the series but was clearly not at 100 percent as the Mystics were swept by the Seattle Storm.

The Storm were the No. 1 seed and had the reigning MVP, Breanna Stewart, a season ago, so Washington would've been underdogs even with a healthy Delle Donne.

This season is different. The Mystics finished the regular season with the best record (26-8) and were first in net rating (14.8), per WNBA.com.

In terms of efficiency, Delle Donne took her game to another level. She was the first WNBA player to join the 50/40/90 club, shooting 51.5 percent from the field, 43.0 from beyond the arc, and 97.4 percent from the charity stripe.

Washington is far from a one-woman show, but Delle Donne was the MVP for a reason. The Mystics could be in trouble if they can't count on her to play like her usual self.

Washington Mystics power forward Elena Delle Donne has been named the 2019 WNBA MVP.

According to ESPN's Mechelle Voepel, Delle Donne received 41 of 43 first-place votes. Here's a closer look at the reported voting breakdown:

1. Elena Delle Donne (WAS): 420

2. Brittney Griner (PHO): 167

3. Jonquel Jones (CON): 145

4. Nneka Ogwumike (LA): 128

5. Natasha Howard (SEA): 121

6. Courtney Vandersloot (CHI): 81

Delle Donne is now a two-time MVP after previously winning the award in 2015 as a member of the Chicago Sky.

The 30-year-old was second in scoring this season with 19.5 points per game, and she also averaged 8.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.3 blocks. She became the first player in WNBA history to shoot at least 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from three and 90 percent from the free-throw line.

In going 114 of 117 from the charity stripe for a 97.4 percent success rate, she set a WNBA single-season record as well (at least 100 attempts).

Delle Donne is now in elite company as the sixth player in WNBA history to win multiple MVP awards, joining Lauren Jackson, Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes, Cynthia Cooper and Candace Parker.

The six-time All-Star said the following of being named MVP for the second time, per Voepel: "It's a huge thing. It's something that, when my career is over, maybe I'll look back on it and brag to my kids or grandkids."

Under the leadership of Delle Donne, the Mystics went a WNBA-best 26-8 during the regular season. They currently hold a 1-0 lead over the Las Vegas Aces in the best-of-five semifinal playoff round.

The Mystics reached the WNBA Finals for the first time last season, and Delle Donne is also looking for her first title individually.

Elena Delle Donne can do it all.

On Sunday, the Washington Mystics star made history, becoming the first WNBA player to finish a regular season shooting 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from three-point range and 90 percent from the foul line. Her free throw percentage of 97.4 is a record for a player with at least 100 attempts, according to ESPN.

And her NBA contemporaries took notice.

Only eight players in NBA history have admission into the 50-40-90 club, per Ava Wallace of the Washington Post: Larry Bird, Mark Price, Reggie Miller, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and Malcolm Brogdon. That's elite company to share.

Not surprisingly, Delle Donne led the Mystics to the best record in the WNBA this season (26-8) and a double-bye into the semifinals.