G Kristi Toliver returning to Mystics

Kristi Toliver returns to the Washington Mystics in free agency.

She made the announcement Wednesday on social media and is expected to join the team after the NBA season ends. She is an assistant coach for the Dallas Mavericks.

The Chicago Sky selected Toliver with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2009 WNBA Draft. She was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks in 2010, signed as a free agent with the Mystics in 2017, then signed a three-year deal to return to the Sparks in 2020.

Now 36, Toliver said it was time to return to the East, where she grew up and played at the University of Maryland.

“DC is my home, these teammates are my family and I can’t wait for the opportunity to bring another banner to The District,” she posted on Instagram. “Ready to work.”

She won WNBA titles with the Spaks in 2016 and the Wizards in 2019.

It was in Washington that she began coaching in the NBA, joining the Wizards staff in October 2018. She has been with the Mavericks since August 2021.

In 369 career games (289 starts), she averaged 12.0 points, 3.5 assists and 2.2 rebounds.

Partly due to the Mavericks’ lengthy playoff streak last season, Toliver was limited to 11 games (10 starts) with the Sparks in 2022. She averaged 5.9 points and 3.1 assists.