Bria Hartley to miss remainder of season due to pregnancy, team signs Leilani Mitchell and waives Tianna Hawkins

From the Mystics:

Washington Mystics head coach Mike Thibault announced today that Bria Hartley will miss the rest of the season as she is expecting her first child. She will be placed on the suspended list and is expected to play in 2017. Hartley is averaging 6.5 points per game and 2.0 rebounds per game.

Thibault also announced the signing of guard Leilani Mitchell. Mitchell recently played in the Olympics as a member of the Australian National team, where she averaged 11.3 points per game and 4.5 assists per game, while shooting 55.6% from the three-point line.

“Leilani Mitchell is a proven WNBA veteran guard who will be a positive addition to our backcourt rotation. Her ability to distribute the ball, as well as score, should greatly help us in our quest to accelerate our tempo and keep defenses honest with her outstanding three-point shooting,” said Thibault. “Due to the rash of injuries to our backcourt and the inconsistency of our perimeter shooting, we knew when we entered the Olympic break that we had to try to add to our guard depth in a very positive manner. Leilani is the perfect fit for our team.”

Mitchell was selected in the second round (25th overall) of the 2008 WNBA draft by the Phoenix Mercury and was traded that year to the New York Liberty where she played for six seasons. Mitchell was named the WNBA’s Most Improved Player in 2010 after averaging a career-high 9.3 points per game and 3.8 assists per game. She returned to the Phoenix Mercury for the 2015 season.

Washington has waived Tianna Hawkins who is currently in the league mandated concussion protocol. Hawkins is being evaluated by Mystics doctors and will continue to receive all of the needed medical benefits. She is averaging 4.7 points per game and 2.5 rebounds.