Washington Mystics 2025-26 Season Preview (5-15-25)
By: Jaden Golding
Headline Photo Credit: Washington Mystics
WASHINGTON D.C. – The Washington Mystics are gearing up for a new season starting on May 16th with a home opener against the Atlanta Dream. First-year head coach Sydney Johnson is joining the Washington bench and taking the helm. Johnson, a former Princeton basketball player from 1993-1997, also played seven seasons overseas and won three championships. Johnson moved over to coaching, serving as an assistant coach for Georgetown University (04-07). He earned his first head-coaching gig with his alma mater, Princeton (07-11), becoming the youngest Ivy League head coach. After Princeton, he made stops at Fairfield (11-19), Air Force (20-21), Team USA ( 22-23, 24), and finally the Chicago Sky (24).
Heading into the 2025 season, Johnson will lead a significantly younger roster that is highlighted by a draft class that added five fresh faces out of collegiate play into the W. Franchise icon Elena Della Done called it a career in the offseason, 2017 Washington draftee guard Ariel Atkins who was the longest tenured player at the time (seven seasons) was moved to Chicago in February. Julie Vanloo was taken in the expansion draft by the Golden State Valkyrie, Shatori Walker-Kimbrough signed with Atlanta in the offseason, and Karlie Samuelson was traded to the Minnesota Lynx for a 2026 first-round pick. These offseason moves highlighted the roster turnover and how the team is moving in a new direction, led by new GM Jamila Widerman. The new GM and coach duo hopes to put the Mystics back on top in the WNBA while building a culture where people can grow on and off the court.
Injuries In 2024
The Mystics were without two of their top players during most of the stretch last season. Guard Brittney Sykes (22 games) and forward-center Shakira Austin (28 games) were affected by lingering injuries that saw them pop in and out of the lineup. Without two of its top players, Washington opened the season with its franchise-worst start of 0-12. Washington had to look for contributions throughout the roster to chip in nightly. Despite the rough start, the Mystics only missed the playoffs by one game.
Year Two For Aaliyah Edwards
The 6th overall pick from the 2024 draft had a productive rookie year, which saw her thrust into a big role from the start due to injuries on the roster. She finished the season averaging 7.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.7 steals, shooting (49 % from the field and 65% free throw line). One of her best games came against the Chicago Sky back on June 7th, where she finished with a career-high double-double performance, scoring 23 points on 10-of-12 shooting, grabbing 14 rebounds, dishing out two assists, one steal, and four blocks. This game displayed the talent she had to become a forceful presence on not only the offensive end but also the defensive end. Coach Johnson will help with the overall development of Edwards in her sophomore year to blossom into a nice two-way forward.
Veterans
With the departures of Atkins and Walker-Kimbrough, the staff and younger players will look towards Sykes and Stefanie Dolson to guide them through the ups and downs of the season. This year’s squad features four rookies and one second-year player. Jade Melbourne and Sika Kone got their first real taste of consistent action last season, both excelling and showing why they can be key players a part of the future. Rookie Kiki Iriafen can develop nicely behind the front court here in D.C., learning how to stretch the floor from Dolson, learning how to balance her aggressiveness on the glass and working on strengthen her touch on inside finishing. Sykes will be the player who will lead by example on both ends and in overall effort. Her energy is contagious, and she is a scrappy player who fights hard on every possession, trying to disrupt plays and playmake on offense.
Georgia Amoore
First-round draft pick point guard Georgia Amoore went down in the first week of training camp with an ACL injury and is expected to miss the entire 2025-26 season. It’s an unfortunate blow to Amoore’s start of her professional career and to the organization, which was looking forward to seeing this class play together this season. Melbourne, Sykes, and number three overall pick Sonia Citron can also handle the ball at times, but all three players will pick up the heavy minutes leading the backcourt.
Expectations
This team is mostly young, with a lot of players who don’t have much experience in the league. The organization won’t have hefty expectations or expect a championship run from this group. But they will want to see development and competitiveness throughout the season to build the foundation of the future, establishing a new culture that stretches into the locker room. That’s not saying this team couldn’t possibly compete and make their way into the playoffs. Coach Johnson is bringing in an 8-second offense that will push the tempo of the offense, building off the fast break and creating more offensive chances. Will see how everything plays out starting Friday evening.
