Wideman is the NBA’s Senior Vice President of Player Development and a former WNBA player. Johnson comes to the Mystics from the Chicago Sky where he was an assistant coach.
On Monday, Monumental Basketball President Michael Winger announced that Jamila Wideman will be the General Manager of the Washington Mystics and Sydney Johnson will be the Head Coach.
Who is Jamila Wideman?
Wideman is the NBA’s Senior Vice President of Player Development. She received her undergraduate degree at Stanford University where she played on the women’s basketball team from 1993-97, making three consecutive Final Fours while playing point guard for Naismith Hall of Fame coach Tara VanDerveer. In addition, she was the third overall pick in the 1997 WNBA Draft where she initially played for the Los Angeles Sparks before moving onto the Portland Fire and Cleveland Rockers. The 1997 Draft was the first in league history.
After her playing career ended, Wideman went to law school at New York University and became a criminal defense and civil rights lawyer, working for organizations like the Equal Justice Initiative.
When she joined the NBA, Wideman developed leaguewide player initiatives, particularly with mental health.
Winger had this to say about Wideman in a press release:
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 also had this statement in the same release.
I have strong roots in the WNBA and have had the privilege of playing with, working alongside, and witnessing the incredible people who are the athletes at the center of the game. The very best I have seen share some core qualities – curiosity, humility, and imagination. I look forward to building a Mystics team in partnership with the players, coaches, and staff that reflects this core. I hope to create a space where player voices and aspirations are centered in all we do on and off the court. We will build with intention, humanity, and joy.
Who is Sydney Johnson?
Johnson most recently was an assistant coach for the Chicago Sky in the 2024 season. He also served as the head coach of the USA Basketball women’s 3X3 team in the AmeriCup that won the silver medal. Current Mystics guard Brittney Sykes was on that team. That said, Johnson’s coaching career has been primarily within men’s NCAA Division I basketball, not women’s basketball at any level. In fact, Johnson never was the full time assistant coach of any women’s team until this past year.
Johnson has DMV, or at least regional ties to the D.C. area. He spent much of his childhood in the Baltimore area. Like Wideman (given her education), Johnson is a very well-educated man himself. He went to Princeton University from 1993-1997 where he spent his last two years with an assistant coach named John Thompson, III or JT3. JT3 is Monumental Basketball’s Senior Vice President by the way. While at Princeton, Johnson was part of the 1996 team that advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament.
After college, Johnson played professionally abroad before beginning his coaching career in 2004 with the Georgetown University men’s basketball team when JT3 became the head coach there. He then returned to his alma mater in 2007, leading the Tigers to an NCAA tournament appearance in 2011. From 2011-19. Johnson was the head coach of the Fairfield Stags mens’ basketball team, but he wasn’t able to lead them to any postseason basketball outside of the CIT.
After his time with Fairfield, Johnson was at the United States Air Force Academy from 2020-21 as an assistant coach on the men’s basketball team.
Here is what Winger had to say about Johnson:
…Sydney brings an exceptional combination of acumen, tenacity, and empathy that will elevate our play and galvanize the team around the new direction for this championship franchise.His deep love of basketball and passion for uplifting others make him a natural fit in our greater Monumental Basketball ecosystem.
Ownership statements
Monumental Sports & Entertainment CEO Ted Leonsis said the following:
Today’s appointments of Jamila and Sydney represent a pivotal moment for the Mystics and our fans – the best fans in the WNBA. As I commemorate 20 years as owner of the Mystics in 2025, I am energized by the vision Michael, Jamila, and Sydney have for instilling and driving a culture of performance, achievement, empathy, and innovation for many years to come.
In addition, Monumental Sports & Entertainment Vice Chairwoman and Managing Partner Sheila Johnson said the following:
There are few things more valuable to me than tenacity, integrity, and excellence – and those qualities are what make Jamila and Sydney stand above the crowd,. These highly decorated, accomplished, and world-class leaders will serve to empower and inspire our players by maintaining a championship culture filled with purpose and compassion.
I am still gathering my thoughts. But for now, it’s time for you to sound off on the hires. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.