The Washington Mystics played the Atlanta Dream last Tuesday, winning 92-74. Mystics guard, Evina Westbrook, waited for her chance… At last, in the 3rd quarter, she got it. It’s her third team for the WNBA and her third chance to find a home.
The former Husky did her warm-ups and took the court. “People would die for opportunities like I have,” Westbrook said during pregame warm-ups.
The Seattle Storm drafted her in the 2nd round in 2022. . Westbrook did fine in the preseason, but due to the limited roster, they still waived her on opening night. The limited roster is an issue for the league. WNBA league board members have considered expanding to add more roster spots.
Afterward, the Minnesota Lynx quickly picked Westbrook up again, but she wasn’t given much playing time. She averaged 2.6 PPG and 12.4 minutes per game. On June 24, when her contract deadline was approaching, she was waived again.
“Twenty-four hours after I was waived from Minnesota, my agent got a call from [Mystics Coach Mike Thibault], saying they were interested in signing me to a seven-day [contract],” Westbrook said. “… Twenty-four hours after that, I flew out.”
Westbrook is still a rookie and on her 3rd team already. Knowing there are only 144 spots in the league, it takes a lot to earn one of those. It’s even more difficult to earn a permanent one. But she’s still in the league and a spot isn’t luck, it’s hard work.
She was active during that 11-minute time she was on the court, scoring three points, dishing out three assists, and getting one steal, while picking up three personal fouls and two turnovers. Her first shot, a corner three, was an airball, but her second one gave the Mystics three more points.
“That felt good like I’m shooting it again,” Westbrook said of her missed shot. “And my teammates knew that. So the second one, for it to go in and [seeing] my teammates’ reaction, it gave me a sense of confidence.”
She had to adapt and learn the new play style of her new team. Instead of designing plays from Minnesota, she learned aggressive plays that emphasize flow and movement. After, she took time to process her emotions from being waived from Minnesota. “I gave myself the night to be sad and be upset,” Westbrook said. “The next day … I was going to use everything that I felt and add that to my game. It’s adding fuel to that fire.”
To her teammates and coaches, the fuel adds to the team’s fire, which will also help her adapt quicker.
Now the question for the Mystics is, should they keep the young and active Westbrook, or should they not. Westbrook has potential that hasn’t been released yet. The Mystics can only give her at most 3 7-day contracts before they make their decision. Now, all she can do is work hard and hope they’ll take her. The Mystics have given her a chance. Now it’s her time to prove it.
The former Husky did her warm-ups and took the court. “People would die for opportunities like I have,” Westbrook said during pregame warm-ups.
The Seattle Storm drafted her in the 2nd round in 2022. . Westbrook did fine in the preseason, but due to the limited roster, they still waived her on opening night. The limited roster is an issue for the league. WNBA league board members have considered expanding to add more roster spots.
Afterward, the Minnesota Lynx quickly picked Westbrook up again, but she wasn’t given much playing time. She averaged 2.6 PPG and 12.4 minutes per game. On June 24, when her contract deadline was approaching, she was waived again.
“Twenty-four hours after I was waived from Minnesota, my agent got a call from [Mystics Coach Mike Thibault], saying they were interested in signing me to a seven-day [contract],” Westbrook said. “… Twenty-four hours after that, I flew out.”
Westbrook is still a rookie and on her 3rd team already. Knowing there are only 144 spots in the league, it takes a lot to earn one of those. It’s even more difficult to earn a permanent one. But she’s still in the league and a spot isn’t luck, it’s hard work.
She was active during that 11-minute time she was on the court, scoring three points, dishing out three assists, and getting one steal, while picking up three personal fouls and two turnovers. Her first shot, a corner three, was an airball, but her second one gave the Mystics three more points.
“That felt good like I’m shooting it again,” Westbrook said of her missed shot. “And my teammates knew that. So the second one, for it to go in and [seeing] my teammates’ reaction, it gave me a sense of confidence.”
She had to adapt and learn the new play style of her new team. Instead of designing plays from Minnesota, she learned aggressive plays that emphasize flow and movement. After, she took time to process her emotions from being waived from Minnesota. “I gave myself the night to be sad and be upset,” Westbrook said. “The next day … I was going to use everything that I felt and add that to my game. It’s adding fuel to that fire.”
To her teammates and coaches, the fuel adds to the team’s fire, which will also help her adapt quicker.
Now the question for the Mystics is, should they keep the young and active Westbrook, or should they not. Westbrook has potential that hasn’t been released yet. The Mystics can only give her at most 3 7-day contracts before they make their decision. Now, all she can do is work hard and hope they’ll take her. The Mystics have given her a chance. Now it’s her time to prove it.
