The negotiation period has begun for the WNBA, and according to Gabe Ibrahim of Winsidr, the Washington Mystics will re-sign 2019 WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne and 2019 WNBA Finals MVP Emma Meesseman. The deals can not be official till February 10th when players can sign with teams.
Elena Delle Donne
Delle Donne had herniated disk in her back last season; she had surgery on her back last Friday. The Mystics said the surgery was minor. Delle Donne is expected back in time when the season starts May 16th.
Elena Delle Donne is coming off a fantastic season where she averaged 19.5 points and 8.2 assists per game, she had a 50-40-90 season. Delle Donne shot 51% from the field, 43% from three-point land, and 97% from the free-throw line. She was the first WNBA player to do 50-40-90 in NBA history. Delle Donne took home the WNBA MVP for the season, she was terrific all year long and led the Mystics to a WNBA title.
Emma Meesseman
Meesseman averaged 13.1 points and 4.2 rebounds per game off the bench for the Mystics, she shot 55% from the field and 42% from three. Meesseman was a crucial factor in the Mystics title run. In the Playoffs, she averaged 19.3 points per game on 58% shooting from the field. In-game five of the WNBA Finals Meesseman scored a team-high 22 points, three rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks in 27 minutes of the bench.
In the WNBA Finals Meesseman averaged 17.8 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. She also shot 57.1% from the field and 50% from three-point land. Those numbers helped give her the WNBA Finals MVP. Meesseman was the first WNBA reserve player to win Finals MVP in WNBA history. Emma Meesseman was on fire in the WNBA Finals, she was excellent in the pick and roll offense. Meesseman was hitting open jumpers, three’s, and even scored in the post a little.
It was a no brainer for the Washington Mystics to bring Delle Donne and Meesseman back. Now they can aim for back to back championships.
