WNBA: What’s the intention of the Washington Mystics’ rebuild?

For the primary time in three seasons, the Washington Mystics missed the playoffs. This yr, very similar to final yr, was outlined by some tough accidents and plenty of robust losses.

The Mystics bought off to a dreadful 0-12 begin to the season, throughout which they experimented with three totally different beginning lineups. With Brittney Sykes and Shakira Austin coping with early-season accidents, it felt just like the writing was on the wall for the Mystics. They had been on tempo to have the best odds for touchdown the No. 1 choose within the 2025 WNBA Draft.

It was throughout this time that the Mystics discovered lots about themselves.

What went proper for Washington?

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Aaliyah Edwards

Beginning with the rookie Aaliyah Edwards, who confirmed plenty of promise in her first yr. She confirmed flashes of her defensive potential, taking up a wide range of totally different assignments each on the perimeter and inside. This shouldn’t come as a shock to those that watched her at UConn, as she was tasked with comparable roles.

As for areas of enchancment, ending on the rim will must be a degree of emphasis. Her paint ending wasn’t nice this yr, and though a few of that may be attributed to different components, it’s essential for her improvement and future as a non-shooting huge that these areas on the ground produce environment friendly offense.

Emily Engstler

Emily Engstler was one other unbelievable shock as properly. Not solely did she take a large leap as a defender and passer this season, however her 3-point taking pictures improved drastically. Within the first two seasons of her profession, Engstler shot 35 % from 3 on only one try per recreation. This season, that quantity virtually doubled, whereas taking pictures a ridiculous 47 % from 3.

The amount remains to be low, however because the season progressed, groups began to respect her much more from behind the arc, which opened up lots for Washington’s offense. In just below 500 minutes, the Mystics had been practically 5 factors higher with Engstler on the court docket, virtually attaining a fair scoring margin in her minutes. It is a very promising sign provided that the Mystics struggled discovering constructive five-player lineups.

Stefanie Dolson

One other participant who had an outstanding taking pictures season was Stefanie Dolson. She had a historic season really, taking pictures 46.5 % from 3 on 4 makes an attempt per recreation, which is the fifth-best mark for any participant making an attempt a minimum of 4 3s per recreation in league historical past.

What’s subsequent for the Mystics?

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The Mystics additionally made midseason strikes to get youthful, buying and selling for Sika Koné on the deadline, who, together with Edwards and Jade Melbourne, provides the workforce three of the youngest gamers within the league.

Regardless of all of the promising strikes, the way in which the season ended left many confused as to the path of the workforce. Washington struggled mightily getting shot creation from the guard place. After the primary month of the season, it felt like Washington was going to tank for UConn’s Paige Bueckers, some of the hyped prospects in latest historical past who additionally would remedy Washington’s evident points.

Nevertheless, because the season progressed, Washington began to hit their stride, which is definitely a constructive signal, however the workforce didn’t make the playoffs and concurrently ruined their probabilities of securing a generational prospect within the draft. The Mystics aren’t able to be drafting for match, discovering the perfect participant accessible needs to be the aim. Except they strike fortunate within the draft lottery (they’ve a ten % likelihood of touchdown the No. 1 choose), Washington will seemingly be drafting third or fourth, which isn’t unhealthy, but it surely doesn’t put them in a state of affairs to show their fortunes round just like the Indiana Fever had been ready to do that season.

Hopefully, Washington could make some strikes this offseason or get fortunate within the draft, but when not, we’ll look again on the closing 12 video games of this season, the place they went 8-4 regardless of being virtually utterly eradicated from playoff competition, as some of the perplexing choices in WNBA historical past.