The Mystics are making a move to reshape themselves.
On Sunday, the Washington Mystics announced that they have acquired the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft and the rights to swap 2027 first round draft picks with the Chicago Sky in exchange for Ariel Atkins.
Atkins has played seven seasons of the Mystics where she was a multiple-time All-Star, a member of the 2019 WNBA championship team, and a multiple All-Defensive team guard.
Mystics General Manager Jamila Wideman said the following.
We are building a program to sustain a period of contention during the next era of Mystics Basketball. Our ambitious return to prolonged excellence requires time, intention, and difficult decisions. Trading Ariel, a champion and celebrated Mystic, is one of those difficult decisions. In exchange, we are afforded another opportunity to select a young impact player at the top of the draft who can be part of our aspirational future.
Ariel has had an extraordinary impact on the Washington Mystics. Some achievements are visible such as winning the 2019 Championship, Gold with Team USA, an All-Star, and earning All-Defensive Team honors. Others, though less visible, mark her time just as deeply.”
She is a remarkable professional and leader. She is a respected and generous teammate who reached toward and was embraced by Mystics fans and the DMV community. Success will follow her. We will continue to root for her with respect and admiration for who she is as a player and person.”
The trade is significant for this year’s draft, because it means that there is someone whom Washington may be angling for in this year’s draft. We’ll find out whom they will draft at No. 3 overall, as well as No. 6, on Apr. 14, 2025.
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