The 2026 WNBA season is around the corner, and teams are preparing to make an impact. The preseason has now ended, and teams are making roster cuts. Each team has to cut its roster down to 12 players by Thursday, May 7th. When consulting the rosters for each team, the Washington Mystics pale in comparison to most. Washington are comprised of a majority of rookies and sophomore players. However, this is not a reason for concern for the team.
The Washington Mystics Have a Young, Strong Team Heading Into 2026 WNBA Season
Washington Have a Strong Rookie Class
As the Mystics get ready for the season, all eyes are on Lauren Betts. The Mystics drafted her fourth overall in the 2026 WNBA Draft, and her collegiate performance demonstrated why. She helped UCLA win their first-ever championship and was named UCLA’s first-ever defensive player of the year. She continued to make UCLA history as she set the record for most blocks for a single season.
Of course, the WNBA is a different league compared to the NCAA level, but her performance is already translating well. In Washington’s first two preseason games, she averaged 15 points. All eyes will be on her at the start of the season. She will be a top rookie to watch for this upcoming season.
Georgia Amoore was drafted last year by Washington, but had to miss the entirety of the 2025 season due to an ACL injury. After undergoing surgery and rehab to fix the issue, Amoore will be back on the court to play with the Mystics for the first time. The number six overall pick averaged 5.5 points and 2.0 steals per game in the preseason. Washington fans should be excited to see what the young guard is capable of.
Mystics Have Great Sophomore Players on Roster, Too
Not only do the Mystics have a great rookie class, but they also have strong players who have only played one season, too. Kiki Iriafen made waves last season with Sonia Citron.
Iriafen averaged 13.3 points per game last season while Citron averaged 14.9. The forward and guard combo was outstanding. Although Citron is technically a guard, her point performance was also incredible. It will be entertaining to see how they perform this season.
Washington Have Minimal Veteran Presence
The extent of Washington’s veteran class is Shakira Austin and Michaela Onyenwere. Austin had originally signed an offer sheet with the Toronto Tempo, but Washington matched the three-year, $3.57 million deal, so she returned to Washington.
Austin was drafted in the first round (third overall) by the Mystics in the 2022 WNBA Draft. She has played with Washington for her last four seasons in the league. Last season, she averaged 12.7 points per game (PPG) and currently has a career scoring average of 10.7 PPG. She continues to grow as a player each season, and her fifth season in the league will be one to show younger players the ropes.
Onyenwere is the only other real veteran presence in Washington, having played five seasons with four different teams since 2021. She began her career with the New York Liberty when she was drafted in the first round (sixth overall) in 2021. Onyenwere remained with New York for another season, but ahead of the 2023 season, New York dealt her to Phoenix as part of a four-team trade. In 2023, Onyenwere recorded her best scoring average with Phoenix (8.9 PPG in 40 games).
Onyenwere was traded again, ahead of the 2024 season, to the Chicago Sky. She played there for her last two seasons and found success on the court. In her last two seasons, Onyenwere averaged 6.6 points in 2024 and 5.8 in 2025. As a free agent in the 2026 offseason, she signed a multi-year deal with Washington. She is a strong forward who also has keen defensive abilities, which will make her a strong asset to this young Mystics team.
Mystics Shaping Up to Have a Strong Season
Washington had their two preseason games against the Minnesota Lynx and the Atlanta Dream. They lost their first game against the Lynx but beat the Dream, 83-72. Although this wasn’t a huge margin, the Mystics managed to keep the Dream at bay to pull out their first win of 2026. Let’s hope they can keep this going into the regular season when they host the Toronto Tempo on Friday, May 8th.
Featured Image: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
