The WNBA offseason has been in full swing for about a month, with blockbuster trades and free-agent signings dominating headlines in the flourishing league. But until Sunday night, the Washington Mystics were on the sidelines.
That passive approach changed when Wideman traded away Ariel Atkins, a two-time All-Star and the last player remaining from Washington’s 2019 championship team. In return, the Mystics added the No. 3 pick in this year’s draft, a first-round pick swap in 2027 and a second-rounder in 2027 from the Chicago Sky.
The methodical approach to fine-tuning the upcoming season’s roster fits the recent pattern for the franchise. The Mystics were the last team in the league this offseason to fill their coach and general manager vacancies. They finally hired Sydney Johnson and Jamila Wideman in late December and officially introduced them earlier this month.
While teams like the Atlanta Dream and Indiana Fever made waves by signing perennial All-Stars Brittney Griner and DeWanna Bonner, the Mystics floated through much of the offseason without any major additions.
The Mystics missed out on top free agents but did offer training camp contracts to newcomer Taylor Soule and returning players Emily Engstler and Sug Sutton
“We are building a program to sustain a period of contention during the next era of Mystics basketball,” Wideman said. “Our ambitious return to prolonged excellence requires time, intention and difficult decisions.”
Trading Atkins creates a hole in Washington’s backcourt next to returning guard Brittney Sykes. It’s unclear who will fill that role for the Mystics, who finished 14-26 last season and missed the playoffs.
“Trading Ariel, a champion and celebrated Mystic, is one of those difficult decisions,” Wideman said. “In exchange, we are afforded another opportunity to select a young impact player at the top of the draft who can be part of our aspirational future.”
Parting with a five-time All-Defense selection who led the franchise in three-pointers can be hard for Mystics fans to stomach. But Wideman netted an impressive return for the 28-year-old, adding crucial draft picks to help Washington build for the future.
With a yearslong rebuild on the horizon, Atkins could be the first domino to fall for the Mystics. Veterans like Sykes, Stefanie Dolson and Karlie Samuelson could all find themselves on the trading block before they become free agents next offseason.
The Mystics will likely expect whoever they select with the No. 3 pick on April 14 to quickly fill a starting role for the porous roster.
If UConn guard Paige Bueckers leaves school early, she is expected to be the Dallas Wings’ top selection, but the rest of the draft order is up in the air.
Notre Dame guard Olivia Miles is surging up draft boards while leading the top-ranked Fighting Irish to a potential top seed. Miles missed all of last season with a knee injury but quickly shook off the rust, posting a triple-double in the season opener and averaging 16.8 points and six assists per game since then.
The Mystics could also bring Bueckers’ backcourt teammate, Northern Virginia native Azzi Fudd, back to Washington. The 22-year-old is averaging 13 points per game while converting 47% of her three-point attempts.
Wideman won’t have to settle for a single prospect if she looks to rebuild Washington’s roster through the draft. After Sunday’s trade, the Mystics have three picks in the Top 6 thanks to their own No. 4 overall selection, a 2023 trade with Atlanta that will send the No. 6 pick to Washington.
The Mystics could add a pair of guards like Miles and Fudd in the backcourt, along with a high-ceiling forward like Dominque Malonga, a promising 19-year-old from France.
Pair the incoming rookies with 2024 first-rounder Aaliyah Edwards and center Shakira Austin — who have both posted strong performances in the three-on-three Unrivaled league this winter — and the Mystics’ future starts to look bright.
Johnson and Wideman refused to give a timeline for playoff contention when they spoke with reporters earlier this month. The goal isn’t just to sneak into the postseason this year, they said.
“We know the game. Success will come,” Johnson said. “But it’s about doing that year in and year out, and that’s where we aim to go.”
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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