Wizards add WNBA standout Kristi Toliver to coaching staff

Shalise Manza Young
·Columnist
Washington Mystics guard Kristi Toliver has joined the Washington Wizards’ coaching staff as a full-time assistant. (AP)
Washington Mystics guard Kristi Toliver has joined the Washington Wizards’ coaching staff as a full-time assistant. (AP)

With just a couple of days before their regular-season opener, the Washington Wizards announced changes to their coaching and training staff.

One of the team’s new assistants is the NBA’s third active female coach.

Kristi Toliver joins the Wizards’ staff

Among those added by head coach Scott Brooks is Kristi Toliver, a two-time WNBA all-star who helped lead the Washington Mystics to the WNBA Finals earlier this year.

Toliver was part of the Wizards’ coaching staff during the 2018 NBA Summer League and training camp, and will be a full-time assistant coach/player development.

The 31-year-old Toliver is a Virginia native and former Maryland star who was the No. 3 pick in the 2009 WNBA draft. She won a WNBA championship with Los Angeles in 2016, and was a key part of the Washington Mystics’ Eastern Conference title.

In an August profile by the Washington City Paper, she said being an NBA coach is her “career goal.”

‘She’s a special talent’

Brooks called Toliver a “talented coach. She’s a special talent. She’s going to be moving through the ranks pretty quick.”

One of Toliver’s focuses, Brooks said, is on ball-handling, but she isn’t confined to that.

“I’ve given her some head coaching duties, where we go with two teams scrimmaging, I’ve given her some drills to run,” Brooks said. “And she’s done a great job. I’m excited about having her and continuing to get to know her and her strengths. We all want to be better every day and she has that mentality, as I have that mentality.

“I don’t know everything. She doesn’t know everything. But we can learn some things together.”

Third woman in NBA coaching ranks

Toliver is the third woman to join the NBA coaching ranks. Becky Hammon was recently promoted by the San Antonio Spurs and now will be on the front of the bench, alongside Gregg Popovich.

Jenny Boucek, a longtime WNBA coach, spent last season on the Sacramento Kings’ coaching staff, but was hired by the Dallas Mavericks in the offseason. As if she’s not enough of a trailblazer, Boucek recently had a baby and is the league’s first coach-slash-mom.

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