A Letter from the Editor
In a 44-game season that takes place over 118 days, there isn’t much down time. So when three of our players – Lucy Olsen, Sug Sutton and Jade Melbourne – each agreed to share some of that time with us, we were thrilled.
And what you’ll learn in this issue of Inner Circle is that each of these extraordinary women are not only driven on the court, but also in their personal lives.
Lucy Olsen started a line of basketball lifestyle apparel called "Basketball Is Fun" from her dorm room. And in this feature, you’ll learn more about how this business came to be and what she’s hoping to achieve with her line. You’ll also learn more about what’s behind that smile on her face every time she takes the court.
Fashion and confidence go hand-in-hand for Sug Sutton, who discovered her love of style, fashion and clothing thanks to the culture of the W and its players. Go behind the scenes as she collaborates with her stylist to express the many sides of herself through fashion.
Every time you see Jade Melbourne, she has a smile on her face. It’s an infectious energy that draws us all in, rooting for her every time she takes the court. Her undeniable positivity is one of the favorite qualities of her friends and family who form a tight circle of support around Jade. And when she has a moment to herself, Jade wants nothing more than to invest in those relationships – oftentimes over a great cup of coffee. In this month’s issue, Jade invites our readers to join her for a coffee chat at Cameo, a specialty coffee located in Roost, the Southeast food hall.
Another Mystics personality who is all about connecting with others is our very own DJ Heat. Many of you already know the story of how Heat was first a ball girl for the Mystics, but you may not know her story of how she became the Mystics DJ. Set against the backdrop of Byrdland Records, Heat talks growing up in Ward 8, go-go music, and the incredible energy of our fans.
Lastly, I hope you’ll take the time to read an article dedicated Joaquin “Guac” Oliver, a 17-year old boy who was tragically killed in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida in 2018. This summer, a larger-than-life mural of Joaquin was created outside the Mystics office in downtown D.C. It serves as a powerful call-to-action for all of us to fight for change and end the epidemic of gun violence in our country. Since 2019, the Mystics have been active in gun safety awareness, from hosting our annual Wear Orange game to supporting gun violence interruption and gun violence survivor organizations across the DMV. In 2025, together with Monumental Sports, we also supported Guac, a one-man play debuting at The Wooley Theater, featuring Joaquin’s father Manuel, and supported by Manual & Patricia Oliver’s non-profit Change The Ref. (Named, coincidently, after a shared experience on a basketball court!). In this month’s article, you’ll learn about Joaquin’s story, the extraordinary mural, and the devastating personal consequences of gun violence. I often find myself looking at this remarkable mural outside our windows, reminding myself that much of what we do at the Mystics goes well beyond basketball.
The 2025 Mystics season was an exciting one – multiple Mystics franchise and WNBA rookie records set by Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron; three – count them, three! – WNBA All-Stars; Mystics games across the DMV, including the first-ever WNBA game in Baltimore, Maryland; amazing theme nights & fun giveaways; gutsy wins from our joy-filled team; and another sold-out season thanks to our incredible Mystics fans.
But we’re not ready to close the chapter yet on 2025.
From Inner Circle to social media to Mystics Messenger, we’re continuing to share the behind-the-scenes stories from the Mystics players and personalities you love, and profile the programs and causes close to our hearts. Our players and our staff will be busy in this off-season – and we’ll be right there with them to help you stay close and connected.
ALYCEN MCAULEY
Chief Business Officer,
Washington Mystics
We welcome your feedback at InnerCircle@WashMystics.com
A Letter from the Editor
In a 44-game season that takes place over 118 days, there isn’t much down time. So when three of our players – Lucy Olsen, Sug Sutton and Jade Melbourne – each agreed to share some of that time with us, we were thrilled.
And what you’ll learn in this issue of Inner Circle is that each of these extraordinary women are not only driven on the court, but also in their personal lives.
Lucy Olsen started a line of basketball lifestyle apparel called "Basketball Is Fun" from her dorm room. And in this feature, you’ll learn more about how this business came to be and what she’s hoping to achieve with her line. You’ll also learn more about what’s behind that smile on her face every time she takes the court.
Fashion and confidence go hand-in-hand for Sug Sutton, who discovered her love of style, fashion and clothing thanks to the culture of the W and its players. Go behind the scenes as she collaborates with her stylist to express the many sides of herself through fashion.
Every time you see Jade Melbourne, she has a smile on her face. It’s an infectious energy that draws us all in, rooting for her every time she takes the court. Her undeniable positivity is one of the favorite qualities of her friends and family who form a tight circle of support around Jade. And when she has a moment to herself, Jade wants nothing more than to invest in those relationships – oftentimes over a great cup of coffee. In this month’s issue, Jade invites our readers to join her for a coffee chat at Cameo, a specialty coffee located in Roost, the Southeast food hall.
Another Mystics personality who is all about connecting with others is our very own DJ Heat. Many of you already know the story of how Heat was first a ball girl for the Mystics, but you may not know her story of how she became the Mystics DJ. Set against the backdrop of Byrdland Records, Heat talks growing up in Ward 8, go-go music, and the incredible energy of our fans.
Lastly, I hope you’ll take the time to read an article dedicated Joaquin “Guac” Oliver, a 17-year old boy who was tragically killed in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida in 2018. This summer, a larger-than-life mural of Joaquin was created outside the Mystics office in downtown D.C. It serves as a powerful call-to-action for all of us to fight for change and end the epidemic of gun violence in our country. Since 2019, the Mystics have been active in gun safety awareness, from hosting our annual Wear Orange game to supporting gun violence interruption and gun violence survivor organizations across the DMV. In 2025, together with Monumental Sports, we also supported Guac, a one-man play debuting at The Wooley Theater, featuring Joaquin’s father Manuel, and supported by Manual & Patricia Oliver’s non-profit Change The Ref. (Named, coincidently, after a shared experience on a basketball court!). In this month’s article, you’ll learn about Joaquin’s story, the extraordinary mural, and the devastating personal consequences of gun violence. I often find myself looking at this remarkable mural outside our windows, reminding myself that much of what we do at the Mystics goes well beyond basketball.
The 2025 Mystics season was an exciting one – multiple Mystics franchise and WNBA rookie records set by Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron; three – count them, three! – WNBA All-Stars; Mystics games across the DMV, including the first-ever WNBA game in Baltimore, Maryland; amazing theme nights & fun giveaways; gutsy wins from our joy-filled team; and another sold-out season thanks to our incredible Mystics fans.
But we’re not ready to close the chapter yet on 2025.
From Inner Circle to social media to Mystics Messenger, we’re continuing to share the behind-the-scenes stories from the Mystics players and personalities you love, and profile the programs and causes close to our hearts. Our players and our staff will be busy in this off-season – and we’ll be right there with them to help you stay close and connected.
ALYCEN MCAULEY
Chief Business Officer,
Washington Mystics
We welcome your feedback at InnerCircle@WashMystics.com