April 18, 2025
Locked On Women’s Basketball: Where the Mystics stand after the 2025 WNBA Draft
Storylines to watch from Mystics training camp
The Washington Mystics made three of the first six picks in Monday night’s WNBA Draft, and The Next’s Mystics beat reporter and managing editor Jenn Hatfield joins host Natalie Heavren to discuss the team’s five total picks, storylines to watch for in training camp and what to expect this season. Hatfield also talks about the youth on the roster, who she expects to step up as a leader this season and more.
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“Becoming Caitlin Clark” is out now!
Howard Megdal’s newest book is here! “Becoming Caitlin Clark: The Unknown Origin Story of a Modern Basketball Superstar” captures both the historic nature of Clark’s rise and the critical context over the previous century that helped make it possible, including interviews with Clark, Lisa Bluder (who also wrote the foreword), C. Vivian Stringer, Jan Jensen, Molly Kazmer and many others.
During Mystics training camp and preseason, all eyes will be on how new head coach Sydney Johnson molds the team’s chemistry and handles positional depth, especially in the frontcourt. With a logjam at the post and a shortage of wings, decisions like whether Brittney Sykes remains at point guard or moves back to the wing—and what that means for players like Jade Melbourne—will be key indicators of Johnson’s vision. “I think there are a lot of fun player combinations in short,” Jenn noted, “and I’m curious to see what Sydney Johnson’s vision is for how he’s going to use them.”
On the roster-building side, there’s cautious optimism around the Mystics’ five-player draft class, each bringing unique skills to a team in transition. With only 12 roster spots available, there’s a realistic shot for four—or even all five—rookies to make the final cut, especially if Zaay Green and Lucy Olsen impress. The draft is seen as a foundational step in the franchise’s rebuild, offering versatility and promise across positions one through three. This being Jamila Wideman’s first draft as GM adds another layer of intrigue to what could be a pivotal moment in the team’s long-term trajectory.
