Stefanie Dolson back in DC to chase championship glory with the Mystics

• She is an American professional basketball player
• She won a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
• She recently returned to the Washington Mystics

Stefanie Dolson is an American professional basketball player who was drafted by the Washington Mystics in the 2014 WNBA draft, traded to the Chicago Bulls and recently returned to the Washington Mystics.

Dolson began her career at Minisink Valley High School in New York and joined the UConn Huskies powerhouse program where she played under legendary coach Geno Auriemma. She earned a reputation for her defensive skills and became a key contributor to back-to-back NCAA championships for two consecutive years.

She was drafted sixth overall by the Washington Mystics in 2014, where she became a defensive anchor for the team, contributing to playoff appearances and earning her first All-Star selection in 2015.

The player was then drafted to the Chicago Sky in a deal involving Elena Delle Donne where she embraced her new role with the Sky, thriving alongside stars like Vandersloot. With the Sky, she played a crucial role in the team’s championship run, averaging doubles in the playoffs and earning her second All-Star selection.

Recently, Dolson signed a multi-year deal with the Washington Mystics.

Stefanie Dolson personal life

The 32-year-old was born on January 8 1992 in Port Jervis, New York, U.S. to Steve and Kristal Dolson. She has two elder sisters, Ashley and Courtney, and a younger brother Jake. Ashley played college basketball at Sullivan Community College.

Stefanie Dolson. Photo/UConn Athletics

The player attended Minisink Valley High School in Slate Hill, New York, and excelled in both academics and athletics, being part of the National Honor Society. In high school, she played volleyball and basketball.

Dolson earned a scholarship to attend the University of Connecticut UConn, a powerhouse program known for its success in women’s basketball. At the University, she majored in Communication Sciences, indicating an interest in communication and potentially media or PR-related fields.

She played centre for the UConn Huskies women’s basketball team for four years and graduated with a degree in communication sciences while achieving athletic success with the Huskies.

Stefanie Dolson career

Dolson began her career at Minisink Valley High School in New York and joined the UConn Huskies powerhouse program where she played under legendary coach Geno Auriemma. She earned a reputation for her defensive skills and became a key contributor to back-to-back NCAA championships for two consecutive years.

She was drafted sixth overall by the Washington Mystics in 2014, where she became a defensive anchor for the team, contributing to playoff appearances and earning her first All-Star selection in 2015.

The player was then drafted to the Chicago Sky in a deal involving Elena Delle Donne where she embraced her new role with the Sky, thriving alongside stars like Vandersloot. With the Sky, she played a crucial role in the team’s championship run, averaging doubles in the playoffs and earning her second All-Star selection.

Recently, Dolson signed a multi-year deal with the Washington Mystics.

Why did Stefanie return to the Washington Mystics?

Several factors might have influenced her decision to return to her former club rather than signing with a new team. Probably, she was comfortable returning since she was familiar with the team.

Stefanie Dolson. Photo/Sports Illustrated

She spent her first three WNBA seasons with the Mystics, getting drafted sixth overall in 2014 and the return signifies a homecoming, possibly fulfilling a desire to revisit a familiar environment and potentially win a championship with the team that drafted her.

The Mystics lacked a veteran presence at the centre after Elena Delle Donne’s trade, and her experience was good to fill the gap the team is also on the verge of building a strong team with its young talents.

Dolson likely saw an opportunity for significant playing time and a chance to make a major impact on the team’s success. Having lived in Washington, her preference would be to return to a familiar city and community.