By Will Peralta
Photo By Will Peralta
The Washington Mystics are gearing up for the 2025 WNBA Draft, holding the 3rd, 4th, and 6th picks. With Ariel Atkins’ departure, they’ve lost a key player, but their young core remains promising. Let’s explore their options for draft night.
Option 1: Keeping All Three Picks By retaining their current picks, the Mystics can focus on building a strong foundation for the future. With a plethora of young talent, they’re looking at a potential contender by 2027. This approach allows them to:
- Develop their current roster
- Add depth and talent through the draft
- Build a cohesive unit over time
However, this strategy requires patience and a willingness to rebuild.
Option 2: Trading Up for Paige Bueckers
Paige Bueckers, the UConn Huskies’ star guard, is widely projected as the number one pick. With impressive college stats:
- 19.9 points
- 4.4 rebounds
- 4.6 assists
Bueckers led her team to a national title, showcasing her skills on the biggest stage. If the Mystics trade up for her, they’ll be adding a franchise-changing player who can make an immediate impact. However, this move comes with risks, as they’ll need to surrender valuable assets for the trade.
Option 3: Trading Away a Future Pick The Mystics can consider trading one of their picks for a future draft asset. This approach allows them to:
- Spread out their assets across multiple drafts
- Acquire a higher pick in a future draft
- Potentially land a more talented player
This strategy requires careful planning and a deep understanding of the team’s needs.
Top 10 Prospects
Here are some top prospects the Mystics might consider:
Sonia Citron , Notre Dame (14.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists)
Kiki Iriafen , USC (18 points, 8 rebounds, 1.8 assists)
Shyanne Sellers , Maryland (14.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists)
Dominique Malonga , France (18.5 points, 11 rebounds, 1.4 assists)
Justé Jocyté , Lithuania (12.1 points, 3 rebounds, 2.6 assists)
Aneesah Morrow , LSU (18.7 points, 13.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists)
Ajsa Sivka , Slovenia (11 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists)
Georgia Amoore , Kentucky (19.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, 6.9 assists)
Hailey Van Lith, TCU (17.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.4 assists)
Sarah Ashlee Barker, Alabama (18.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists)
The Mystics have a tough decision ahead, balancing short-term needs with long-term goals. Will they take a chance on a franchise-changing player like Paige Bueckers or build a strong foundation for the future? The 2025 WNBA Draft will reveal their strategy.
