Washington Wizards, Mystics had a large presence – and found success – at Tokyo Games
Monumental Sports and Entertainment, owners of the Washington Mystics and Wizards, had a great start and finish to the Tokyo Olympics.
Wizards forward Rui Hachimura kicked off the Games by carrying the Japanese flag at the opening ceremony, and Mystics center Tina Charles and guard Ariel Atkins wrapped up the women’s basketball competition with a gold medal victory against Japan.
The Wizards and Mystics had six players at the Olympics – Hachimura, Charles, Atkins, Germany’s Isaac Bonga, Belgium’s Emma Meesseman and Australia’s Leilani Mitchell.
“It’s a unique opportunity,” Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard said. “We’re so proud of them. The international aspect of bringing athletes together for a competition and the exchange of cultural information – the entire experience makes them more rounded as individuals but it also gives us a great of pride that we have some fantastic representatives for their respective countries. It’s just such a neat thing for us.”
No other NBA/WNBA ownership group sent more players to Tokyo, and a record-121 NBA and WNBA players participated in men's and women's basketball at the Olympics.
The Wizards’ Bradley Beal made the U.S. men’s team but COVID-19 health and safety protocols prevented him from playing in Tokyo.
Sheppard appreciated Hachimura’s moment in his home country.
“Watching him carry the flag was that much more special,” he said. “It was a tremendous moment for him, his family and Japan.”
On the court, Charles and Atkins played reserve roles, and it was Charles’ third Olympic gold medal. She averaged 4.5 points and three rebounds and had 15 points and five assists in a group stage victory against France. Atkins’ best game came against Australia in the quarterfinals when she had three points and three rebounds and was a plus-five.
Meesseman, the 2019 WNBA Finals MVP, was a star, averaging 26.8 points, 10.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 3.5 steals and 1.3 blocks. Belgium lost in the quarterfinals 86-85 to Japan, which reached the gold-medal game.
Mitchell averaged 9.3 points and 5.5 assists and had 14 points and six assists in the quarterfinals loss to the U.S.
Bonga helped Germany reach the quarterfinals after it missed the 2016 Rio Olympics and 2012 London Olympics. Bonga averaged eight points and 4.8 rebounds.
Japan was 0-3 in group play, but Hachimura was clearly the standout player. He averaged 22.3 points and 6.7 rebounds and scored 34 points against semifinalist Slovenia.
“We have some elite players in global basketball,” Sheppard said. “These players from Monumental are elite in their country. Making the Olympic team is evidence of that.”
Follow Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt.