Last Updated on August 31, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
The Washington Mystics 2018 were powered by Elena Delle Donne’s efficient scoring and all-around production, while Kristi Toliver and Natasha Cloud shared primary playmaking duties in the backcourt. Ariel Atkins emerged as a dependable perimeter scorer, and LaToya Sanders anchored the interior with rebounding and defensive contributions. Washington combined efficient offense, strong outside shooting, and balanced ball movement, with multiple players contributing across scoring, playmaking, and defensive responsibilities.
Roster
| NO. | PLAYER NAME | POS. | HT. | WT. | BIRTH DATE | COLLEGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Myisha Hines-Allen | F | 6-2 | 200 | May 30, 1995 | Louisville |
| 4 | Tayler Hill | G | 5-9 | 145 | October 23, 1990 | Ohio State |
| 7 | Ariel Atkins | G | 5-10 | 167 | July 30, 1996 | Texas |
| 9 | Natasha Cloud | G | 5-10 | 160 | February 22, 1992 | Maryland, Saint Joseph’s |
| 11 | Elena Delle Donne | F-G | 6-5 | 187 | September 5, 1989 | University of Delaware |
| 14 | Tierra Ruffin-Pratt | G | 5-11 | 180 | April 11, 1991 | UNC |
| 20 | Kristi Toliver | G | 5-7 | 130 | January 27, 1987 | Maryland |
| 21 | Tianna Hawkins | F | 6-3 | 186 | March 2, 1991 | Maryland |
| 23 | Aerial Powers | G | 5-11 | 170 | January 17, 1994 | Michigan State |
| 25 | Monique Currie | F | 6-0 | 175 | February 25, 1983 | Duke |
| 30 | LaToya Sanders | F-C | 6-2 | 170 | September 11, 1986 | UNC |
| 32 | Shatori Walker-Kimbrough | G | 5-9 | 140 | May 18, 1995 | Maryland |
| 34 | Krystal Thomas | C | 6-5 | 210 | June 10, 1989 | Duke |
Regular Season Per Game
| Player | POS | AGE | GP | GS | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TOV | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elena Delle Donne | — | 28 | 29 | 29 | 32.2 | 20.7 | 7.2 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 15.6 | 7.6 | .488 | 4.2 | 1.7 | .405 | 4.3 | 3.8 | .887 |
| Kristi Toliver | — | 31 | 33 | 33 | 32.9 | 13.9 | 2.3 | 4.4 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 2.2 | 10.4 | 4.5 | .433 | 6.1 | 2.2 | .360 | 2.9 | 2.7 | .918 |
| Ariel Atkins | — | 21 | 29 | 24 | 22.5 | 11.3 | 2.4 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 9.6 | 4.1 | .432 | 4.3 | 1.6 | .357 | 1.8 | 1.4 | .824 |
| LaToya Sanders | — | 31 | 28 | 25 | 24.5 | 10.2 | 6.4 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 6.8 | 4.1 | .607 | 0.0 | 0.0 | .000 | 2.2 | 1.9 | .869 |
| Natasha Cloud | — | 26 | 27 | 22 | 26.5 | 8.6 | 3.2 | 4.6 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 1.7 | 7.6 | 3.3 | .436 | 3.1 | 1.2 | .386 | 1.0 | 0.8 | .778 |
| Monique Currie | — | 35 | 32 | 9 | 15.9 | 6.6 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 5.4 | 2.1 | .395 | 1.8 | 0.5 | .293 | 2.2 | 1.8 | .831 |
| Tianna Hawkins | — | 27 | 32 | 4 | 16.6 | 6.3 | 3.5 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 5.7 | 2.5 | .443 | 2.2 | 0.8 | .357 | 0.5 | 0.4 | .824 |
| Tierra Ruffin-Pratt | — | 27 | 33 | 10 | 18.1 | 5.5 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 5.0 | 1.7 | .341 | 1.5 | 0.5 | .314 | 1.9 | 1.6 | .855 |
| Myisha Hines-Allen | — | 23 | 24 | 1 | 10.5 | 3.8 | 2.9 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 3.3 | 1.5 | .450 | 0.1 | 0.0 | .333 | 1.1 | 0.7 | .654 |
| Aerial Powers | — | 24 | 9 | 0 | 12.7 | 6.1 | 3.2 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 4.4 | 2.0 | .450 | 1.8 | 0.8 | .438 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.000 |
| Shatori Walker-Kimbrough | — | 23 | 19 | 1 | 8.8 | 3.5 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 2.9 | 1.3 | .429 | 1.2 | 0.4 | .304 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 1.000 |
| Tayler Hill | — | 27 | 13 | 0 | 9.0 | 3.0 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 3.0 | 0.8 | .282 | 1.6 | 0.5 | .286 | 0.9 | 0.8 | .917 |
| Krystal Thomas | — | 29 | 24 | 7 | 9.9 | 1.8 | 2.5 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 0.8 | .429 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.3 | .636 |
Playoff Per Game
| PLAYER | POS | AGE | GP | GS | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TOV | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elena Delle Donne | — | 28 | 8 | 8 | 34.5 | 19.6 | 9.5 | 2.9 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 16.0 | 7.3 | .453 | 3.3 | 1.1 | .346 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 1.000 |
| Ariel Atkins | — | 21 | 9 | 9 | 27.9 | 15.2 | 3.7 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 10.9 | 5.2 | .480 | 3.7 | 1.6 | .424 | 3.7 | 3.2 | .879 |
| Kristi Toliver | — | 31 | 9 | 9 | 36.7 | 13.9 | 2.6 | 4.4 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 2.3 | 13.4 | 5.2 | .388 | 7.1 | 1.7 | .234 | 2.1 | 1.8 | .842 |
| Natasha Cloud | — | 26 | 9 | 9 | 25.7 | 8.2 | 3.4 | 4.1 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 1.9 | 7.2 | 2.9 | .400 | 3.2 | 1.3 | .414 | 1.4 | 1.1 | .769 |
| LaToya Sanders | — | 31 | 9 | 9 | 26.4 | 7.7 | 5.8 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 6.4 | 3.0 | .466 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 2.1 | 1.7 | .789 |
| Tianna Hawkins | — | 27 | 9 | 1 | 12.7 | 5.8 | 2.9 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 4.0 | 1.8 | .444 | 2.3 | 0.8 | .333 | 1.7 | 1.4 | .867 |
| Tierra Ruffin-Pratt | — | 27 | 9 | 0 | 17.3 | 5.2 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 5.8 | 2.2 | .385 | 1.9 | 0.4 | .235 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.000 |
| Aerial Powers | — | 24 | 9 | 0 | 10.0 | 5.1 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 4.6 | 1.6 | .341 | 1.1 | 0.0 | .000 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.000 |
| Myisha Hines-Allen | — | 23 | 6 | 0 | 11.3 | 5.2 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 2.5 | .833 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 1.000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — |
| Shatori Walker-Kimbrough | — | 23 | 4 | 0 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 1.000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0.0 | 0.0 | — |
| Monique Currie | — | 35 | 5 | 0 | 5.8 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 1.6 | 0.2 | .125 | 0.4 | 0.0 | .000 | 0.8 | 0.4 | .500 |
| Krystal Thomas | — | 29 | 3 | 0 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | .000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0.0 | 0.0 | — |
HeatingUp Impact Index: Regular Season Team Impact Spotlight
| PLAYER NAME | ROLE TIER | MPG | USAGE TIER | PPG | RPG | APG | STK (SPG + BPG) | IMPACT INDEX | NOTES | AWARDS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elena Delle Donne | Starter/Star | 32.2 | High | 20.7 | 7.2 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 84.22 | Everything in Washington’s offense flowed through Delle Donne, whose combination of size, shooting and off-ball movement made her nearly impossible to scheme against. Independent season reviews credited her leadership and efficiency as the driving force behind the franchise reaching its first WNBA Finals. (WNBA) | WNBA All-Star (2018), All-WNBA First Team (2018), WNBA MVP Voting (3rd), WNBA Finals (2018) |
| Kristi Toliver | Starter/Star | 32.9 | High | 13.9 | 2.3 | 4.4 | 1.2 | 57.55 | Toliver balanced lead-guard duties with elite perimeter shooting, often taking over late-clock possessions while spacing the floor for Delle Donne. Her shot-making and playmaking consistently gave Washington another offensive engine during its Finals run. | WNBA All-Star (2018), WNBA Finals (2018) |
| LaToya Sanders | Starter/Star | 24.5 | Medium | 10.2 | 6.4 | 1.6 | 2.4 | 49.61 | Sanders quietly anchored the defense, protecting the rim while finishing efficiently around the basket. Season evaluations regularly praised her career-best campaign as a major reason the Mystics developed into a legitimate title contender. (Bullets Forever) | WNBA Finals (2018) |
| Natasha Cloud | Starter/Star | 26.5 | Medium | 8.6 | 3.2 | 4.6 | 0.8 | 41.62 | Cloud embraced the full-time point guard role by pushing pace, organizing the offense and defending opposing ball handlers with relentless energy. Her steady decision-making allowed Washington’s scorers to operate without forcing possessions. (Bullets Forever) | WNBA Finals (2018) |
| Ariel Atkins | Starter/Star | 22.5 | Medium | 11.3 | 2.4 | 2.1 | 1.6 | 42.83 | The rookie immediately fit Washington’s system with disciplined perimeter defense and confident catch-and-shoot offense. Coaches trusted her well beyond typical first-year responsibilities, and her postseason composure drew widespread praise. | WNBA All-Rookie Team (2018), WNBA All-Defensive Second Team (2018), WNBA Finals (2018) |
| Tianna Hawkins | Key Contributor | 16.6 | Medium | 6.3 | 3.5 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 26.57 | Hawkins delivered instant offense off the bench, stretching opposing frontcourts and finishing efficiently inside. Her scoring punch gave Mike Thibault valuable flexibility whenever the second unit needed production. | WNBA Finals (2018) |
| Monique Currie | Key Contributor | 15.9 | Low | 6.6 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 23.10 | Returning to Washington, Currie accepted a reduced veteran role and supplied reliable wing depth, defensive experience and leadership for one of the league’s deepest rotations. (Bullets Forever) | WNBA Finals (2018) |
| Tierra Ruffin-Pratt | Key Contributor | 18.1 | Low | 5.5 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 20.58 | Ruffin-Pratt continued handling difficult perimeter defensive assignments while willingly sacrificing touches for the team’s balanced attack. Her versatility remained valuable despite a smaller offensive role. | WNBA Finals (2018) |
| Aerial Powers | Bench | 12.7 | Low | 6.1 | 3.2 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 22.60 | Powers brought aggressive downhill scoring and athleticism whenever she entered games, though injuries limited her opportunities to establish a larger rotation role. Independent coverage frequently viewed her as an impactful spark plug when healthy. | WNBA Finals (2018) |
| Myisha Hines-Allen | Bench | 10.5 | Low | 3.8 | 2.9 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 15.40 | As a rookie forward, Hines-Allen earned situational minutes by rebounding, defending physically and adapting to Washington’s veteran-heavy rotation. Development remained the primary objective throughout the season. | WNBA Finals (2018) |
| Shatori Walker-Kimbrough | Bench | 8.8 | Low | 3.5 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 10.80 | Walker-Kimbrough spent most of the year supplying reserve perimeter depth. Limited independent reporting focused on her individual role because Washington relied heavily on its established veteran backcourt. | WNBA Finals (2018) |
| Tayler Hill | Bench | 9.0 | Low | 3.0 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 9.80 | Injuries prevented Hill from carving out a consistent role after previously being one of Washington’s primary scorers. Her limited appearances left little opportunity to regain offensive rhythm. | WNBA Finals (2018) |
| Krystal Thomas | Bench | 9.9 | Low | 1.8 | 2.5 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 9.60 | Thomas shifted into a reserve interior role after starting the previous season, continuing to contribute physical rebounding and interior defense whenever called upon. | WNBA Finals (2018) |
| Washington Mystics Totals | — | — | — | 104.3 | 36.0 | 23.2 | 12.2 | 413.28 | Washington reached its first WNBA Finals behind an elite offense built around Elena Delle Donne, balanced perimeter creation from Kristi Toliver and Natasha Cloud, and a versatile defensive frontcourt featuring LaToya Sanders and Ariel Atkins. | WNBA Finals (2018) |
HeatingUp Impact Index: Playoff Team Impact Spotlight
| PLAYER NAME | ROLE TIER | MPG | USAGE TIER | PPG | RPG | APG | STK (SPG + BPG) | IMPACT INDEX | NOTES | AWARDS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elena Delle Donne | Starter/Star | 34.5 | High | 19.6 | 9.5 | 2.9 | 1.5 | 88.70 | Washington continued to run everything through Delle Donne despite her painful knee bone bruise, and her willingness to play through the injury became one of the defining stories of the postseason. Even at less than full strength, she remained the focal point opposing defenses tried to contain. (WNBA) | WNBA All-Star (2018), All-WNBA First Team (2018), WNBA MVP Voting (3rd), WNBA Finals (2018) |
| Ariel Atkins | Starter/Star | 27.9 | High | 15.2 | 3.7 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 58.08 | The rookie played with remarkable confidence, defending elite wings while knocking down timely perimeter shots. Her 20-point performance in the decisive semifinal win over Atlanta reinforced the belief that she already looked like a seasoned playoff veteran. (Bullets Forever) | WNBA All-Rookie Team (2018), WNBA All-Defensive Second Team (2018), WNBA Finals (2018) |
| Kristi Toliver | Starter/Star | 36.7 | High | 13.9 | 2.6 | 4.4 | 1.1 | 58.08 | Toliver carried heavy creation duties throughout the playoffs, alternating between primary scorer and lead facilitator depending on Delle Donne’s health. Although Atlanta’s defense made life difficult in stretches, she remained Washington’s most trusted perimeter shot creator. (Bullets Forever) | WNBA All-Star (2018), WNBA Finals (2018) |
| LaToya Sanders | Starter/Star | 26.4 | Medium | 7.7 | 5.8 | 2.2 | 3.8 | 47.43 | Sanders quietly anchored the interior with elite rim protection and disciplined positioning. Her playoff run reinforced how valuable her length and timing were, even before an ankle injury disrupted the Finals. (Bullets Forever) | WNBA Finals (2018) |
| Natasha Cloud | Starter/Star | 25.7 | Medium | 8.2 | 3.4 | 4.1 | 0.9 | 40.66 | Cloud set the offensive tempo while defending opposing point guards with relentless energy. Her willingness to attack gaps and keep the ball moving allowed Washington’s stars to play comfortably within their preferred spots. (Bullets Forever) | WNBA Finals (2018) |
| Tianna Hawkins | Key Contributor | 12.7 | Low | 5.8 | 2.9 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 20.37 | Hawkins consistently provided scoring punch off the bench, and her 17-point effort in the Game 5 semifinal victory over Atlanta became one of Washington’s biggest surprise contributions during the playoff run. (Bullets Forever) | WNBA Finals (2018) |
| Myisha Hines-Allen | Bench | 11.3 | Low | 5.2 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 17.20 | Hines-Allen stepped into meaningful minutes when injuries reshaped the rotation, giving Washington physical rebounding and efficient finishing around the basket. Her role expanded briefly because of frontcourt health concerns. (Bullets Forever) | WNBA Finals (2018) |
| Aerial Powers | Bench | 10.0 | Low | 5.1 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 16.60 | Powers brought instant offense and downhill aggression whenever Washington needed a scoring spark. Her 18-point outing in Game 3 against Atlanta nearly kept the Mystics alive without Delle Donne available. | WNBA Finals (2018) |
| Tierra Ruffin-Pratt | Key Contributor | 17.3 | Low | 5.2 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 19.53 | Ruffin-Pratt accepted a reduced offensive role while continuing to defend multiple positions and provide lineup flexibility. Her value came through disciplined team defense rather than box-score production. | WNBA Finals (2018) |
| Shatori Walker-Kimbrough | Bench | 2.3 | Low | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 4.20 | Walker-Kimbrough saw only brief postseason action as Washington shortened its rotation. Independent coverage of her playoff role was limited because the Mystics relied heavily on their veteran core. | WNBA Finals (2018) |
| Monique Currie | Bench | 5.8 | Low | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 4.80 | Currie’s postseason opportunities were limited as Washington leaned on a tighter rotation. Most independent reporting focused on her veteran leadership rather than on-court production during the Finals run. | WNBA Finals (2018) |
| Krystal Thomas | Bench | 2.3 | Low | 0.0 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 3.20 | Thomas appeared only in spot minutes after falling behind LaToya Sanders in the center rotation. Independent postseason discussion of her individual role was limited. | WNBA Finals (2018) |
| Washington Mystics Playoff Totals | — | — | — | 85.0 | 34.0 | 19.4 | 11.3 | 378.87 | Washington reached its first WNBA Finals behind Elena Delle Donne’s resilience, Ariel Atkins’ breakout postseason, Kristi Toliver’s shot creation and one of the league’s most balanced starting lineups before falling to Seattle. | WNBA Finals (2018) |