Lindsey Harding reportedly among ‘top candidates’ for Mystics head coach
A spot on the Lakers coaching staff could open up if Lindsey Harding is the next head coach of the Mystics.
While the NBA season is a quarter done, other basketball leagues are in different parts of their year. The WNBA is in the middle of its offseason and teams like the Washington Mystics are looking for a head coach.
According to WNBA reporter Mitchell Northam, Lakers assistant Lindsey Harding is a top candidate for this position.
According to multiple industry sources, Lindsey Harding is among the top candidates for the Washington Mystics head coach opening. The former Duke All-American played for the Mystics in 2009-10. She is currently an assistant coach for the Lakers. #WNBA
— Mitchell Northam (@primetimeMitch) December 7, 2024
Losing Harding to the Mystics would be tough but understandable, given the opportunity.
Comparing the NBA and WNBA is a bit of an apples-and-oranges situation, but being a head coach is an upgrade from her current position as an assistant coach in Los Angeles.
The Mystics fired their general manager and head coach, the father-son duo Mike and Eric Thibault, after a 14-26 season, resulting in the franchise's second consecutive losing season.
Washington has struggled to achieve WNBA success during this decade, failing to make it out of the first round of the playoffs.
Harding has had a basketball relationship with Redick for years. Both are Duke alums and attended the university at the same time when they were All-American players.
With the 76ers, Harding was a player development coach when Redick played there. In 2020, Redick even showed his support for her as a candidate for the Duke women's basketball job.
So, it was not surprising that Harding was hired this summer to join Redick's staff, making her the first woman to be a Lakers assistant coach.
Prior to her role with the Lakers, she coached the Sacramento Kings' G League affiliate team, the Stockton Kings and led them to a 24-10 record. Her efforts resulted in Harding winning the G League Coach of the Year award that season.
If Harding does move on and head to Washington, then Redick will likely be searching for someone to fill that position on his staff.
Redick's staff currently includes Nate McMillan, Scott Brooks, Bob Beyer, Greg St. Jean, Lindsey Harding and Beau Levesque as assistant coaches. Michael Wexler is the Lakers' head video coordinator.
The WNBA season does not officially begin until May. 16, but with the draft happening on Apr. 14 and free agency beginning in February, the Mystics would likely want to fill this position sooner rather than later.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88.