Monique Currie signs with the Mystics

The Mystics announced that they have signed swingman Monique Currie on Thursday. Currie played last season for the then-San Antonio Stars and later, the Phoenix Mercury. In 2017, Currie averaged 10.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game.

Here is what GM and Head Coach Mike Thibault said in a statement:

“We are very excited to bring Monique Currie back to her home in DC! Mo will fill a huge role for our team. Her ability to score on the wing and get to the lane and free throw line will be an important part of our offense. In addition, she has worked hard to become a bigger factor from the three-point line, which will allow us to stretch the floor with Elena [Delle Donne] and Kristi [Toliver]. I think this will be a comfortable fit all around for our team.”

Currie was one of the top unrestricted free agents this season. Last season, she shot a career high from the three point line (39.8 percent) since the WNBA’s three point line moved back to FIBA length in 2013. Given that the Mystics have many three point shooters on their team as it is, Currie’s return should help continue making them a team to watch out for from deep.

And though Currie has played for the Mercury and Stars in the last three seasons, she is best known as the Mystics’ long-time starting small forward from 2007-2014. During her tenure in Washington, Currie played a major role on the 2010 Mystics team that won a franchise high 22 games. She also made the 2010 WNBA All-Star Team in a special match against the USA Basketball women’s national team.

In 2006 and for part of 2007, Currie played for the Chicago Sky.

If there’s one thing I’ve admired about Currie over the years, she has remained a remarkably consistent small forward where she’s contributed as a shooter, rebounder, and defender. What’s even more remarkable is that her scoring and shooting rates have remained consistent throughout the years. Her consistency is a major reason why I named Currie to our All-Time Mystics second team last year.

Given Currie’s previous tenure with the Mystics, she has been through the team’s highs and also their lows. I’ll be the first guy to say that I’m guilty of not appreciating her enough during her first stint in Washington. That’s in part because I applied the “guilty by association” label on her for playing on the 2011 and 2012 Mystics teams that won a combined 11 games. Perhaps that was a bit harsh because there were many issue facing the team beyond Currie at the time.

I’ll also acknowledge that I believed Currie wasn’t a fit for the Mystics early in the Mike Thibault Era. However, I believe that letting her go in unrestricted free agency before 2015 was the right decision and still do today. At the time, the Mystics were still in the early stages of a rebuild, even if they were coming off consecutive playoff appearances. Those minutes had to be given to younger players like Tierra Ruffin-Pratt, who has since developed into one of the toughest veteran perimeter defenders in the league.

But today, I feel like this is a great signing. The Mystics are trying to win now instead of later. And getting veteran experience is preferred now that players like Ruffin-Pratt and Tayler Hill are veterans themselves. Currie also helps fill in minutes at the small forward position and could still start there if Hill isn’t ready to start the season.

After a tough week for both the Mystics and Wizards, I could use some good news.

Welcome home, Mo!