Ok, they’re not winning the championship. The headline is a shameless attention-grabbing ploy. But now that you’re here, I gotta say, man, this is going to be an entertaining season in Washington. Championship predictions is putting a little too much dip on the chip, but the Mystics are definitely in a position to make some noise this year. Small sample size be damned, it looks like the front office has batted 1.000 on draft picks for the second consecutive year. They locked up a key piece of their core in Shakira Austin to the tune of three years and $3.57 million. Brought in Michaela Onyenwere for some veteran presence and her defensive prowess. And above all else, this is just a fun team to be around.
There is a lot of optimism surrounding this group, from fans, media, and internally as well. Head Coach Sydney Johnson has not shied away from the challenges this group will face this season. They’re the youngest team in the league and will undoubtedly go through some growing pains, which Johnson has been vocal about. He’s fully embracing it and preparing his team for what lies ahead. Even though the Mystics are in the infancy stages of their return to championship form, one thing that has stood out is that Johnson has not simply minimized this season to “We’re going to try our best.” He’s looking to make serious strides towards contention. One thing that’s stood out is that almost every time Johnson has been in front of a microphone, whether it be draft night, media day, post-practice availability, etc., he has referenced the Aces. Obviously, he’s not suggesting this Mystics team is on that level, but he appears to be using them as a proverbial North Star. I’m not mad at him for setting the bar at the defending champs. Both franchises are in completely different situations. The Aces are a veteran-laden team with a championship pedigree, and the Mystics are going to war with eight rookies on their roster. One thing they have in common is undeniable chemistry. Naturally, the Mystics still have to log more minutes together on the court, but their organic camaraderie is evident. That’s going to be valuable when they inevitably hit some rough patches during the season. Even in their two preseason games, some of that chemistry has already begun to materialize between the lines. While they struggled offensively in the opener against the Lynx, they looked much more in sync against Atlanta. Georgia Amoore and Lauren Betts played off each other in the pick-and-roll like they’ve been teammates for years. Their cohesion helped establish an offensive flow that carried throughout the rest of the game. Kiki Iriafen returned to the lineup as well and was able to seamlessly fit in alongside her new teammates. As they get more reps in, the chemistry will continue to grow, and positive results will follow.
From a personnel standpoint, the Mystics are in a great spot. There is a youth movement in Washington, but this year’s rookies will be able to ease into complementary roles and not be heavily leaned on for immediate production like last season’s group. Everyone has been clamoring for Georgia Amoore’s debut. She’s already shown the ability to plug some holes in the Mystics’ offense from last year, albeit it’s only been in the preseason. Her ability to get downhill, get two feet in the paint, and compromise defenses has opened things up for her teammates and created high-quality looks. Her decision-making and ability to control tempo will also be a big factor in maximizing the potential of this team. The Mystics have upgraded significantly in the athleticism department. No need to have those horses if you’re going to keep them in the stable. Georgia’s ability to push the pace and still take care of the ball is going to be paramount to the Mystics’ success. Lauren Betts’ size and versatility are going to be key factors for her in her rookie campaign. She has been comfortable operating in the high post and out of the pick and roll. She’s also been able to pop and be a threat from the midrange. Defenses are going to have decisions to make when guarding her. And when she just wants to make things simple, Betts just goes down to the block and reminds people that she’s 6’7″. Being able to dump the ball down low and put pressure on opposing bigs is a luxury most teams covet. Fellow rookies Cotie McMahon and Angela Dugalic give the Mystics size, versatility, and athleticism on the wing as well. Dugalic sports a 6’4″ frame with a Swiss army knife skillset that will allow her to contribute in multiple ways. McMahon has shown a knack for aggressively attacking the basket and relentlessly pressuring ball handlers on the other side of the floor. And in what might end up being the steal of the draft, 3rd round pick Rori Harmon has been a ball of energy and just flat out scrappy. Getting a first-round talent at that point in the draft was a no-brainer. On draft night, I asked Sydney Johnson how wide everyone’s eyes in the war room got when Rori was still available at that point in the night. His response: “It was a bit surprising.” He went on to talk about her highly productive college career, recalling a conversation with Vic Shaefer where her former coach heralded her as the best point guard in the country, and what she could bring to the team. Defensive tenacity and an offensive scoring punch were among the attributes he expects Rori to add to the fray.
While the Mystics are in a rebuild, they already have a solid core to build around. Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron head into their sophomore seasons after impressive rookie campaigns that garnered them both All-Star selections. Though they are young themselves, they both have embraced leadership roles and are prepared to guide this team. In her media day press conference, Sonia stated that part of her growth has been to become a more vocal leader. Her one year of experience wasn’t typical at all, so she has a lot of knowledge to impart to the team’s younger players. As the season progressed and she started lighting teams up, she saw herself moving to the top of some scouting reports. Having to make those adjustments and still find ways to be productive is a steep learning curve, and she was able to navigate that fairly successfully. Kiki had a similar trajectory during her rookie season. She came out the gate making noise and had to adjust to the extra attention she started seeing. Her leadership style and personality are contagious, and she injects fun and energy into the team. Her play on the court is equally as ferocious. The Mystics put the last piece of the puzzle in place when they locked up Shakira Austin. She’s coming off her best season as a pro, and the level of investment the team made in her shows that they’re all in. After battling multiple injuries for the better part of two seasons, Austin played 38 games last year and was named Comeback Player of the Year. In speaking with her around the All-Star Break, she said she was just happy to be able to be out there playing consistently and was getting the opportunity to show the full range of her game. Her standout season was highlighted by a career high 30 pt game against the Seattle Storm on August 25th. With Shakira’s athleticism and motor, she can be a defensive anchor for the Mystics as well as a consistent offensive threat.
These are exciting times around the Mystics camp. The team is in a unique position. Last year’s young players are ahead of schedule. This year’s rookies appear to be ready to make an impact right away. Being in a transitional phase while also being able to compete is rarefied air. It’s going to be fun to see them navigate this journey. Juggling development with high expectations is never an easy place to operate in, but everyone from the front office to the last woman on the bench appears to be up to the task. Here’s to a hopefully groundbreaking season.