Hartley expecting first baby; Mystics sign Mitchell, waive Hawkins


The Washington Mystics have made changes to their backcourt with just a few more games left in the 2016 WNBA regular season.

Per the Monumental Network, Mystics guard Bria Hartley is pregnant, and shall be back in the 2017 season. The Mystics also waived Tianna Hawkins, who is still recovering from injury, and signed veteran guard Leilani Mitchell to bolster their backcourt rotation.
"Washington Mystics head coach Mike Thibault announced today that Bria Hartley will miss the rest of the season as she is expecting her first child. She will be placed on the suspended list and is expected to play in 2017. Hartley is averaging 6.5 points per game and 2.0 rebounds per game. 
Thibault also announced the signing of guard Leilani Mitchell. Mitchell recently played in the Olympics as a member of the Australian National team, where she averaged 11.3 points per game and 4.5 assists per game, while shooting 55.6% from the three-point line."
Hartley, the third year guard out of UConn, is averaging 6.5 PPG and 2.3 RPG in 24 games this season. She is also shooting 36.3 percent from three-point area.

It will be Mitchell's first appearance in the WNBA this season after playing for the Phoenix Mercury last year where she played all 34 regular season games. Mitchell averaged 11.3 PPG including 55.6 percent from long range and 4.5 APG in the 2016 Rio Olympics. She has spent seven seasons in the WNBA.

The Mystics have also brought LaToya (known as Lara in Turkey) Sanders back in their line-up. It will also be Sanders' first appearance back for the Mystics after focusing on playing for the Turkish national team. She averaged 22 PPG and 8.2 RPG in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Washington is currently in ninth place in the league standings with a 9-15 record, and the team could sure use the abilities of Mitchell and Sanders as they continue to vie for a playoff spot.

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