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Why haven’t the Mystics offered ticket credits or refunds yet for the 2020 WNBA season?

The Wizards have made their move, but the Mystics still haven’t yet, mainly because they could still technically have a full season in June

By Albert Lee
NBA Announces Possible Re-Opening Of Team Practice Facilities Starting In May
The Entertainment and Sports Arena in Congress Heights won’t have games in 2020. It’s not official yet, but we know.
Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Today was supposed to be a happy day for the Washington Mystics. Earlier today, they would have held their championship parade throughout downtown, and hopefully with their 2019 team ... and the 2019 team alone.

Instead, the 2020 WNBA season is postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The parade is postponed, but really, it’s going to be cancelled. I just don’t think it’s right to hold a championship parade in 2021 for a two-year old championship.

Anyway, last week, I wrote about the Washington Wizards offering credits and refunds to affected season ticket holders for remaining home games in the 2019-20 NBA season. So why haven’t the Washington Mystics done anything yet for theirs, besides offering ticket holders a chance to defer payments?

No, I don’t work for Monumental Sports & Entertainment, but yes, I am a Mystics season ticket holder and have the same questions you probably do. With that said, and what we know about the coronavirus, here are the reasons why the Mystics probably haven’t officially changed how the 2020 season will operate.

The WNBA is waiting until it is actually necessary to start condensing the regular season

The Mystics were originally scheduled to start their regular season on Saturday, May 16 until it was postponed on April 3.

However, with the midseason month-long Olympic break (yes, we know the games are postponed to next year), there can still TECHNICALLY be a 36-game regular season with a tipoff in mid-June, or maybe even a little later where teams can play with fans in the stands. The season would likely end by October to allow for players to go to overseas teams where those teams’ regular seasons would start anyway.

The WNBA may be waiting to make their decision in unison with the NBA

League Commissioner Cathy Engelbert COULD decide to hold a truncated season without fans in a bubble city while the NBA cancels the 2019-20 season. Or perhaps she cancels the season while the NBA continues games in July. Or August.

I think both leagues will make an announcement at the same time, and it’s more likely that both leagues will cancel play in 2020.

Ultimately, if there is a 2020 WNBA season, one thing will be clear. There won’t be games played with fans. With coronavirus cases continuing to rise in the United States without a treatment in sight, I don’t see how that happens.