Michaela Onyenwere’s Journey with the Mystics

The former Rookie of the Year from Liberty is recovering well, and it seems like she just needed a change in direction, a national championship, and some steadiness to help her along.

Mystics forward Michaela Onyenwere was picked sixth overall in the 2021 draft by New York University and received the Rookie of the Year title after averaging 8.6 points over 32 games, with 29 of those being starts.

Unfortunately, that promising start didn’t carry over to her second season—Onyenwere only started one game and her points dropped significantly.

Eventually, the Liberty decided to part ways with her, leading Onyenwere to wander through the league until UCLA’s head coach Cori Close reached out, offering her a spot as an assistant coach for the 2025-26 season.

“If someone had told me a year ago that I would end up coaching, I would have laughed,” Onyenwere mentioned before Friday’s tightly contested game against Liberty at Barclays Center. “It’s a fantastic opportunity. I love UCLA. I’d choose it every time.”

Now at just 26, Onyenwere brings valuable experience to her new team, having played a key role in leading the Bruins to a national championship. This time in Washington, she’s not just focused on personal stats—she’s motivated to contribute, and that seems to be making a positive impact on her performance.

As of Friday, she was enjoying a career-high average of 12.7 points and added 11 against her old team.

“I’m thankful for where I’ve been, but I think consistency would be nice,” she said. “I believe it’s about understanding what the coaches want from me, what my teammates expect, and having confidence in that.”

Sabrina Ionescu had nine points in her third consecutive game on Friday as she continues to work her way back after a three-week absence due to back pain.

In the aftermath of the loss, Marin Johannes shared her thoughts on the team’s situation: “It’s tough since we haven’t had much practice.” She acknowledged Ionescu’s challenges after her month off but affirmed her importance to the team: “We trust her. It takes time sometimes, but she’s still a great player.”

Ionescu recorded four turnovers, with three assists, and had a -7 rating for the Liberty in that game.

Coach Chris DeMarco expressed that he anticipates “ups and downs” while trying to get Ionescu back into rhythm after her return.

Meanwhile, Bethnia Laney Hamilton was sidelined on Friday, recovering after receiving an injection in her previously injured left knee.

DeMarco planned to give her “one more day” and hopes she’ll be able to play on the upcoming West Coast trip.