Sheila Johnson, the team president, managing partner and governor of the Washington Mystics and part owner of the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals โ€“ all under the Monumental Sports & Entertainment umbrella โ€” has made evolving statements regarding the companyโ€™s move from the District to the Potomac Yard neighborhood of Alexandria, Virginia.

โ€œJust chill on this,โ€ Johnson said during a talk at a gathering of the Economic Club on Jan. 4. โ€œItโ€™s a long way from happening. The moving trucks have not pulled up yet. But Iโ€™m just saying that if any of you are Washingtonians, we have got to embrace this city. Iโ€™ve invested a lot in this city. Iโ€™m concerned about it. I love this city. โ€ฆ And we have all got to fight for this city and help one another to make this city the greatest city in the country. Donโ€™t give up on it.โ€

Two days later, Johnson clarified her remarks on X (formerly known as Twitter),  particularly regarding the Mystics playing in the downtown Capital One Arena, leaving the Ward 8-based Entertainment and Sports Arena.

โ€œThereโ€™s significant work ahead, including engaging in legislative and community processes,โ€ she said. โ€œBut I stand with my business partners and Ted Leonsis in navigating this journey.โ€

James Wright Jr. is the D.C. political reporter for the Washington Informer Newspaper. He has worked for the Washington AFRO-American Newspaper as a reporter, city editor and freelance writer and The Washington...

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