Washington Mystics fire coach Trudi Lacey

From the Mystics

Washington Mystics President and Managing Partner Sheila C. Johnson announced today that General Manager/Head Coach Trudi Lacey’s contract will not be renewed. The Mystics will immediately begin the search for a general manager and coach.

“We are looking forward to a fresh start with our core returning players, a high draft pick that will yield an impact player and a new direction in basketball operations,” said Johnson. “Everyone in our organization recognizes how frustrating the season has been and would like to thank our fans for their support. We thank Trudi for her dedicated work and wish her well in her future endeavors.”

The Mystics will participate in the WNBA Draft Lottery to be held Wednesday, Sept. 26, and hold the best odds of receiving the No. 1 overall pick. The results of the draft lottery will be broadcast during the 6 p.m. edition of ESPN’s SportsCenter. For behind the scenes coverage of the Mystics’ participation in the draft lottery, log on to WashingtonMystics.com.

In addition to Lacey’s departure, the contracts of the team’s assistant coaches will not be renewed.

The WNBA’s Washington Mystics are owned and operated by Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which is one of the largest integrated sports and entertainment companies in the country with one of the most diverse partnership groups in all of sports. The group also owns and operates the NBA’s Washington Wizards, the NHL’s Washington Capitals and Verizon Center – the premier sports and entertainment venue in Washington, D.C. Monumental Sports & Entertainment also oversees the management of Kettler Capitals Iceplex, the state-of-the-art training facility for the Capitals, and George Mason University’s Patriot Center.