Mystics training camp is under way, begin preseason on Tuesday

I’ve usually bunched Mystics links with the Wizards in Top Stories. But with the Wizards in the postseason while the Mystics are preparing for their preseason, I felt that it’s better to separate the links for the time being. So let’s go through some links around training camp.

The Preseason starts tomorrow

Training camp has gone on for a week. And now, it’s time to get ready for preseason basketball. The Mystics have two preseason games:

• Tuesday, May 2, 12 p.m. ET - at Indiana Fever
• Monday, May 8, 7 p.m. ET - vs. Minnesota Lynx

We’ll get our first chance to see Elena Delle Donne, Tayler Hill, Ivory Latta, and friends in a matinee against the Fever. In this match, Delle Donne also faces her former head coach, Pokey Chatman, who was the Chicago Sky’s head coach until this past season. The Fever will also play without Tamika Catchings, who retired after last season.

The Mystics’ lone home preseason home game is against the WNBA runner up Minnesota Lynx next Monday. Washington has managed to score a winning record against Minnesota despite the lack of a talent like Delle Donne in the last four years. Now it will be interesting to see how they’ll play with a player of her caliber.

Training camp pics and videos

Let’s kick this off by showing some videos of training camp:

The Mystics are testing out some new options at point guard

Gene Wang of The Washington Post detailed how the Mystics are coping without Emma Meesseman and Kristi Toliver who are still in Russia. One plan is playing Tayler Hill at point guard in spurts. Last season, she averaged a career high in scoring average (15.4 ppg) and assists (2.9 apg) so perhaps you’ll see her orchestrating the offense just a little more this season.

Ivory Latta: a veteran sage who is still their burst of energy

Wang also wrote in detail about Latta, who has been with the Mystics since the beginning of the Mike Thibault Era in 2013. Though Latta is now expected to be a reserve instead of a starter (she was an All-Star in 2013 and 2014), she still has plenty left in the tank, and will answer all the hard hitting questions:

Emma Meesseman and Kristi Toliver led UMMC to 3rd place in EuroLeague Women

The foxes weren’t able to win a second straight title for the Yekaterinburg based superpower. However, they both had huge performances to win the third place match.

They will be in D.C. next week.

Emma’s missing a month as well soon after she arrives in D.C.

I’m actually quite disappointed that many sites have neglected to point this out. But Emma Meesseman is going to play for the Belgian national team in EuroBasket Women in June, and that’s going to complicate things this season.

Meesseman will be in D.C. for the start of the regular season, but she is expected to report to Europe in late May for a series of friendlies in preparation for June’s tournament.

The WNBA does not pause the season for EuroBasket Women, so this is going to affect some other teams who have European nationals on their rosters. Unlike some other contending teams, like the Minnesota Lynx and L.A. Sparks, the Mystics will miss one of their foundational players for the tournament. Hopefully, EDD and the rest can hold the fort.

These aren’t the only links around the Mystics of course. If you’d like to share another link, feel free to do so in the comments or as a FanPost.

I’m still in shock that we’ll see ELENA DELLE DONNE in a Mystics uniform tomorrow!