Washington Mystics Name Jamila Wideman as General Manager, Sydney Johnson as Head Coach
The Washington Mystics announced significant leadership changes as Jamila Wideman was appointed general manager and Sydney Johnson named head coach, Monumental Basketball President Michael Winger revealed Tuesday. The hires come after the franchise and general manager Mike Thibault and his son, head coach Eric Thibault, “agreed to part ways” in late October.
Wideman, a former WNBA player and Stanford standout, brings extensive experience from her six years at the NBA league office, where she served as Senior Vice President of Player Development. In that role, she oversaw initiatives focused on player development, mental health, and external partnerships, including the Mind Health platform. Wideman’s playing career began as the third overall pick in the 1997 WNBA Draft, and she competed for the Los Angeles Sparks, Portland Fire, and Cleveland Rockers, as well as overseas in Israel and Spain.
After her playing career, Wideman graduated from New York University Law School and worked for over a decade as a criminal defense and civil rights lawyer, including with the Equal Justice Initiative. She now returns to the WNBA to lead the Mystics’ basketball operations, aiming to foster a player-centered environment.
“I hope to create a space where player voices and aspirations are centered in all we do on and off the court,” Wideman said.
Johnson, a coach with 25 years of experience, steps into the head coaching role after most recently leading Team USA’s 3×3 Women’s AmeriCup team to a silver medal. A former assistant coach for the Chicago Sky, Johnson has held coaching positions at Princeton University, Fairfield University, and Georgetown University. He also has ties to USA Basketball, leading teams to gold medals in international competition.
Johnson, a Baltimore-area native and Princeton alum, expressed enthusiasm about the Mystics’ future. “We will carry the core values that drive this franchise – excellence, togetherness, joy, competitiveness, and accountability,” he said.
The appointments mark a new chapter for the Mystics, as the franchise looks to build on its championship legacy.
