The Washington Mystics have signaled they’re prioritizing long-term success over short-term wins once they opted to commerce two-time All-Star guard Ariel Atkins for the No. 3 choose within the 2025 WNBA Draft.
The Mystics, who completed with the WNBA’s fourth-worst report final season, are stocking up on draft capital, now accountable for the No. 3, No. 4, and No. 6 picks within the upcoming draft. Alongside final 12 months’s standout rookie Aaliyah Edwards, Washington may herald gamers like French middle Dominique Malonga, Notre Dame ahead Sonia Citron, USC ahead Kiki Iriafen, and NC State guard Saniyah Rivers, amongst others. (The Athletic presently tasks the Mystics will snag Malonga, Citron, and Rivers). Tankathon, in the meantime, has the Mystics deciding on Maryland guard Shyanne Sellers alongside Citron and Malonga.
No matter who precisely the Mystics choose, latest strikes have clarified they’re prioritizing participant improvement for the brand new additions. Below newly-hired head coach Sydney Johnson, Washington has added assistant coaches Emre Vatansever and Jessie Miller, each of whom have intensive participant improvement background.
Johnson himself most lately served as an assistant coach on the Chicago Sky after teaching males’s school basketball for practically 20 years. He has additionally coached USA Basketball, main the 3×3 AmeriCup staff in December to a silver-medal end.
Emre Vatansever and Jessie Miller each deliver participant improvement expertise to the Mystics
Vatansever is an offensive strategist who beforehand served as a participant improvement coach on the Chicago Sky, serving to them win their first championship in 2021. He in the end served as an interim head coach, and the overall supervisor, of the franchise. Earlier than his Sky tenure, he was a participant improvement coach on the Seattle Storm, serving to to develop WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Jewell Loyd.
Miller, in the meantime, most lately led participant improvement efforts on the Indiana Fever, particularly working with guards, like famous person Caitlin Clark, who was named to the First-Group All-WNBA in her rookie season.
Alongside the prospects that the Mystics will purchase subsequent month, they’ve a plethora of different younger standouts, together with 24-year-old middle Shakira Austin and 24-year-old ahead Emily Engstler.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Emre and Jessie to our Mystics employees,” Johnson stated within the staff’s official press launch. “They carry intensive teaching expertise from each the WNBA and worldwide ranges, with a powerful emphasis on participant improvement. Their capability to construct sturdy, significant relationships with gamers, coupled with a dedication to innovation and flexibility, retains tempo with the evolving wants of the WNBA’s subsequent era.”
