The Washington Mystics have the No. 3, No. 4 and No. 6 picks. But it isn’t out of the question that they could try to make another move to move up even higher than No. 3 given the lack of moves they made.
The 2025 WNBA Draft is still one month away. But it’s now time for us to take a deeper look at the players whom the Washington Mystics could pick at No. 3, No. 4 and No. 6, assuming they make no moves.
I just don’t see the Mystics standing pat in April, however. But I digress.
So who are the players whom some mock drafts see picking up? Let’s look at Michael Voepel’s mock draft on ESPN followed by Meghan L. Hall’s for For The Win.
ESPN Mock Draft (from Feb.)
- Paige Bueckers, G, Connecticut to the Dallas Wings
- Olivia Miles, G, Notre Dame to the Seattle Storm
- Sonia Citron, G, Notre Dame to the Chicago Sky (now the Mystics — this mock draft was done before the Mystics’ trade)
- Dominique Malonga, C, ASVEL to the Mystics (French national)
- Kiki Iriafen, F, to the Golden State Valkyries
- Aneesah Morrow, F, LSU to the Mystics
FTW Mock Draft (from March)
- Paige Bueckers, G, Connecticut to the Dallas Wings
- Kiki Irafen, F, USC to the Seattle Storm
- Dominique Malonga, C, ASVEL to the Mystics (French national)
- Olivia Miles, G, Notre Dame to the Mystics
- Sonia Citron, G, Notre Dame to the Golden State Valkyries
- Aneesah Morrow, F, LSU to the Mystics
What’s my take?
These are just two mock drafts, but here’s what I’m thinking.
The Top 6 prospects seem rather set
These two lists have the same six players picked in the Top 6, but there is a slightly different order. So the Mystics get to have some combination of all these players.
If the Mystics do not trade up or make a move to pick up a top tier veteran point guard, they will hope Olivia Miles drops to at least No. 3
Paige Bueckers, a point guard, is the clear No. 1 selection in this draft barring something unexpected. Miles is the next best prospect. If the order holds, the Mystics would be sweating profusely about what the Storm do at No. 2 and hope they don’t pick Miles there.
It makes absolutely no sense for the Mystics to draft Malonga. Period.
Mystics fans have complained about the number of non-American (and non-American influenced players) whom former GM Mike Thibault brought on. Yes, Emma Meesseman panned out. But Meesseman was a second round pick in 2013, and she was able to blossom because the Belgian Cats were simply not good enough to be in Women’s EuroBasket until 2017.
Malonga is talented, no doubt. If she were American, she’d be a top pick when she turns 22. But if you’re GM Jamila Wideman or Monumental Basketball President Michael Winger, you do NOT want to waste a pick on a player who will miss half of this season for EuroBasket, and would probably miss a good chunk of next season to be on Les Bleues for the World Cup!
I’m sorry this sounds like a hot take. But there is NO NEED to draft European players with lottery picks UNLESS that player is open about wanting to prioritize the WNBA over the European leagues and perhaps skip EuroBasket. Alternatively, there’s no guarantee that the 2026 WNBA CBA will become more friendly to European players. Until that changes — and I’m for such changes by the way — there is no need to draft any European who has no familiarity with the American system of pro basketball to be drafted in the first round of the WNBA Draft.
What are your thoughts on these mock drafts and which players you’d like to see the Mystics select, assuming the order remains as is? Let us know in the comments below.