Washington Mystics coach Sydney Johnson made an early exit Saturday, escorted off the court by police after his ejection during a 109-77 loss to the Atlanta Dream. The incident occurred with 3:52 left in the third quarter following a foul call on Alicia Florez Getino defending Angel Reese. Police intervened as Johnson argued with officials, though he left calmly without incident.

Johnson took full responsibility afterward, telling reporters he 'lost my cool' and that officials handled the situation appropriately. The Mystics trailed 64-43 when the ejection occurred, and the 32-point defeat marked Atlanta's worst performance of the season. Johnson declined to detail what specifically upset him about the play, stating he didn't want to overshadow Atlanta's effort or take away from his team's learning moment.

Forward Kiki Iriafen, who led Washington with 24 points, attempted to defuse the situation. She acknowledged Johnson's protective nature toward players. Johnson emphasized that coaches shouldn't need to advocate through ejections, noting the Mystics are the WNBA's youngest team with an average age of 23.4.

At 4-5, Washington sits mid-table as they prepare to host the Indiana Fever on Monday. This incident highlights the challenges facing a rebuilding franchise with limited veteran leadership to navigate officiating disputes.