As the Washington Mystics enter the 2018 season, they will be without one of their key players that led them to the semifinals last year.
Mystics head coach Mike Thibault announced that Emma Meesseman will not be suiting up for the team in 2018, but will return for the 2019 season.
In a press release, Thibault mentioned that Meesseman has been playing year-round and has not had much time to rest and recuperate from all of that wear and tear. He also said that with this being the year of the World Cup of Basketball that she wants to put more energy on playing with the Belgian National Team.
We are sorry that Emma will not be with us this season, but we have been preparing for this possibility for a while.
–Mike Thibault, Mystics head coach per press release
Meesseman has played her entire WNBA career in Washington up to this point. She averaged 14 points and nearly six rebounds last season.
This could impact who the Mystics pursue in free agency as players are now eligible to sign with teams.
The Mystics are not the only team that will be without one of its important pieces. The Atlanta Dream will be without Bria Holmes this upcoming year as she takes time off due to her pregnancy.
By: Akiem Bailum (@AkiemBailum on Twitter, Instagram)
