WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Washington Mystics thought they had pulled off a miracle. After clawing back from a 17-point deficit, they were one stop away from a stunning win over the Indiana Fever. But then Caitlin Clark happened. Her game-winning three-pointer with 1.2 seconds left wasn’t just a dagger — it may have revealed a much deeper problem simmering beneath the surface.
Insiders close to the team claim that the play’s final breakdown — where rookie Cotie McMahon frantically signaled for a switch that never came — is a symptom of a larger communication breakdown among the youngest roster in WNBA history. One source who spoke on condition of anonymity told us, “The switch was called, but it got lost in translation. That’s been happening more than people realize.”
Head coach Sydney Johnson, however, isn’t hitting the panic button yet. In an exclusive interview with ClutchPoints, he focused on the silver lining. “It’s hard to win in the W. Playing all the way through, I thought we learned a lot,” he said. “I was incredibly proud of our fight. We had moments where we were on the ropes, and to see us show that Mystics DNA, the togetherness, the toughness… We don’t even get to that moment if we don’t show who we are.”
But behind the scenes, frustrations are reportedly mounting. Several veterans, according to sources, have privately expressed concern that the team’s inexperience is costing them winnable games — especially with All-Star forward Kiki Iriafen sidelined by an ankle injury after a collision with Aliyah Boston. Iriafen was seen needing help getting to the locker room, and the diagnosis of a right ankle sprain only added to the tension.
“We just show D.C. and the nation who we are day in and day out. That’s a good feeling,” Johnson continued. “And then yeah, you gotta do whatever you can until the final buzzer, and we came up short by one possession. But I couldn’t be prouder of how they acquitted themselves throughout that game.”
Still, the play that decided the game has become a lightning rod for criticism. With 4.2 seconds left and the Mystics up by one, McMahon guarded Clark initially but signaled for Sonia Citron to switch. Citron didn’t rotate off Lexie Hull, leaving Clark wide open on the wing. McMahon then lunged for a steal on the inbounds pass but missed, and Clark buried the shot with ease. One league scout who watched the tape told us, “That’s a blown assignment you’d expect from a high school team, not a WNBA squad. It’s a red flag.”
Johnson, however, is framing it as a teachable moment. “It’s a big transition for Lauren and all of our young players,” he said of rookie center Lauren Betts. “11 of our 13 players are in their first or second years in the WNBA. Lauren showed off a bit tonight… It’s working hard every day so that the consistency in our gym translates to the game. And yet, that environment is new often.”
Betts posted eight points and three rebounds off the bench, but her limited minutes — just 13.7 per game — have some insiders questioning the team’s development strategy. One unnamed assistant reportedly told us, “We’re trying to walk a tightrope between winning now and building for tomorrow. It’s not always pretty.”
The same goes for Cotie McMahon, who started all 133 games at Ole Miss but is now coming off the bench for the Mystics. She opened up about the mental adjustment before a recent win over Chicago. “It’s definitely something I’ve had to learn to deal with. Coming in, you don’t really know what to expect,” she admitted. “The coaching staff helps me stay the course and stay ready when my number’s called… There are so many games in the season, you never know when your time is gonna be. But it’s gonna come eventually.”
Against the Fever, McMahon logged 22 minutes and finished with a plus-seven rating despite a rough shooting night. She also had to slide into the power forward spot after Iriafen went down — a move that veteran Michaela Onyenwere said forced the team to “go a little bit small.” Onyenwere added, “I think we responded well. Obviously, losing a big piece like Kiki was tough. It made our rotations a little bit tougher too… But she’s a great player for us, provides so many great things offensively and defensively. I think it sparked us to say ‘Next woman up’ and be ready for the moment.”
Rookie forward Angela Dugalic also stepped up with seven points and five rebounds in 18 minutes, but the loss — now dropping the Mystics to 4-6 — has fans and analysts alike wondering whether this young core can survive the growing pains without losing too many games. Up next is a home matchup with the Toronto Tempo on Friday, and all eyes will be on how Washington responds.
One thing is clear: the Clark shot may have won the game, but the real story is the storm it has stirred inside the Mystics’ locker room. As one league insider put it, “This team has talent, no doubt. But talent doesn’t win if you can’t get on the same page. And right now, they’re reading different chapters.”
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