Betnijah Laney-Hamilton is the “grandma” of the Washington Mystics, according to her teammates.
The 32-year-old received the title by default, as she joined one of the youngest teams in WNBA history for their push into the postseason this month.
“She’s not ‘like’ the grandma of the group; she is the grandma of the group,” rookie guard Cotie McMahon said Tuesday. “But she really embraces everyone and our energy.”
The Mystics entered the season with little WNBA experience on the roster.
All but two of the season’s original players are in their first or second year in the WNBA. Veterans Shakira Austin and Michaela Onyenwere were the only exceptions, though Laney-Hamilton became the unofficial matriarch when she joined the roster this month.
“The thing that impressed me most about the Mystics is the youth, the energy,” Laney-Hamilton said.
Coach Sydney Johnson has allowed the squad to embrace a college-like atmosphere. Practices are high-energy and light-hearted, a blend that allows the inexperienced squad to play to their strengths.
“Just the way, regardless of what people think or had to say, just the way that they come out and fight,” Laney-Hamilton said. “And so to be a part of that now, I feel like that’s something that I embody as well as a player and as a person. It’s just been everything that I’ve needed.”
Now, with just 10 games remaining in the season, the Mystics are trying to cement their status as contenders while tightening their grip on a playoff spot.
Washington enters Wednesday’s matchup with the Toronto Tempo with a firm hold on the seventh of eight playoff spots. The Mystics are 5 1/2 games clear of the Portland Fire, the odd team out in the playoff race.
With a solid cushion and just over a month remaining in the season, analytics from ESPN’s Basketball Power Index give the Mystics a 99% chance of making their first playoff appearance since 2023.
“We’ve definitely tightened up the things we wanted to,” said Austin, who has enjoyed a breakout campaign while averaging 16.7 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. “I think we were struggling a little at the beginning of the season, whether it was turnovers, running our offense, or rhythm, or understanding that our defense carries us. Now that we have our foundation, we just have to understand that it’s going to take more.”
The Mystics have looked like a contender over the last month. Only one team — the perennially contending Las Vegas Aces — has defeated Washington since July 18.
Johnson’s squad has gone 8-2 over that span. It’s changed the reputation of the team around the league. ESPN’s regular power rankings placed the Mystics fifth midway through August. Lists from CBS Sports, WNBA.com and The Athletic gave Washington similar praise.
Once a young, fiery team to watch, the Mystics have blossomed into a real threat.
“We expected nothing less,” McMahon said. “We knew that we could come out here and compete with the old ones. Our defense has really improved, and that’s something that we found does help us finish out games.”
The Mystics, led by Austin, rank first in the league in rebounds per game. Their opponents convert a league-low 42.4% of their shots as Austin and fellow front-court players Lauren Betts and Kiki Iriafen help Washington control the pace of close games.
The on-court progress has given the Mystics an identity beyond their youth. The players quickly grew tired of opponents and analysts discussing their age and used it as a rallying point after a sluggish 5-7 start.
“It got to a point where we were tired of the young excuses,” McMahon said. “We’re like, ‘Yeah, we’re young. But nobody cares at this point. We can still do what these other teams are doing.’ We just shifted our mindset, set goals for ourselves, and now we’re on the path to achieving them.”
There’s room to improve for the 20-14 squad. The Mystics have struggled with consistency, a common criticism delivered to younger players.
A seven-game win streak surrounding last month’s All-Star Break buoyed Washington’s postseason hopes.
But the players aren’t looking to settle for a participation trophy. They want to make noise in the playoffs, and the final 10 games will serve as a postseason tune-up.
“Our streak was amazing; I think we were able to find our rhythm, but it’s still not good enough,” Austin said. “At the end of the day, I think having that mentality, we can clap at the good things and look and our mistakes, but just never settling.”
They won’t turn down an opportunity for solid branding, though.
Asked to give this season a title for a hypothetical, the 26-year-old Austin offered “The Young and the Restless: Basketball Edition.”
• This article is based in part on wire service reports.
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