On Wednesday, Washington Mystics guard Tayler Hill announced on Twitter that she delivered a baby boy, Maurice David Lighty in Minneapolis, her hometown:
7pounds 2oz, 21inches long, 7:21pm the love of my life was born! Maurice David Lighty! I love you son!
— Tayler Hill (@Tayler_Hill4) June 19, 2014
Maurice's father is David Lighty, Hill's boyfriend. He was a former college basketball player at Ohio State (like Hill was), where he played from 2006-2011. He is now a professional basketball player in Europe.
Given that Maurice was born at this time and the Mystics' regular season ends on August 16, it is unrealistic for Hill to get back in some form of playing shape before the end of the regular season, with the assumption that she is cleared to play two months after having a child.
So, I'm calling it. Hill will not play during the 2014 season.
The biggest priority at this point is for Hill to play overseas in the winter and be ready to hit the ground running for the 2015 season. If she has a strong offseason playing overseas this winter and a training camp next year, she could pick up where she left off in 2013 and have a breakout year for the Mystics. Hopefully, she does.
Congratulations to Tayler and David on being parents for the first time!
Update at 8:45 a.m. ET - We've embedded a video piece from WCCO-TV in Minneapolis which focuses on Hill and Lighty which was released this past Monday. Based on the content in the piece, Hill does not anticipate playing during the 2014 season. As for Lighty, he will play in the NBA Summer League.
Coincidentally, the Washington Mystics will play the Minnesota Lynx this Friday, so maybe Hill will watch the game if she can.
Monumental Sports has not put out a statement as of now on whether Hill will play this season. But given the timing, she's not playing.
Update at 6 p.m. ET - The Mystics have put out a tweet.
Congrats to Tayler Hill and David Lighty! Baby boy Maurice came into the world yesterday evening! All are doing well. Coach T
— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) June 19, 2014
Update on June 21, 2014 at 5:45 p.m. ET - It looks like Tayler Hill may be returning for the 2014 season after all, so I removed lines implying the contrary. I apologize if I misled anyone that she may not be playing.