It has been 429 days since the two-time WNBA All-Defensive team member Alysha Clark has suited up to play in the WNBA. Today she will lace up and take the court in a Washington Mystics uniform for the first time since signing with the team in February 2021. Despite not playing in 2021, Clark has been a vocal leader for her team. She has been sharing her basketball IQ while fervently rehabbing her Lisfranc injury.
According to Kareem Copeland of the Washington Post, Clark will play about 20 minutes, and Walker-Kimbrough will be moving back to the 6th woman position. Coach Thibault hasn’t said definitively if Clark is starting, but that is the feeling in the room.
The 2010, 17th overall pick did not make a roster the first two years in the WNBA; however, in 2012, she signed with the Seattle Storm. Clark started every game during Seattle’s 2018 and 2020 Championship seasons.
The Mystics Coaching staff had been eyeing Clark since as far back as 2016. Her style of play was what the Mystics wanted to add to their 2021 roster. She is a savage defender and a multifaceted offensive player. The 2021 free agency period provided the Mystics with an opportunity to acquire Clark. She signed a two-year deal and headed to the East coast.
Everything changed when it was determined that she would not be able to play the 2021 season due to the Lisfranc injury sustained while playing for Lyon in France. Over the next year, she would endure surgery and intense physical rehabilitation. She remained steadfast in her recovery, taking a positive attitude no matter the obstacle. Clark has displayed incredible mental toughness throughout this whole process.
Tonight, we welcome back A.C. to the court with open arms.
Bobbi Mullis
A lifelong women’s basketball enthusiast. Credentialed reporter for HoopSocial. A voice for investing in women. An advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. You can follow her on Twitter, IG, and TikTok at @Swaggy_DgB. #InvestInWomen #WBBvsEverybody