Some players will be in Unrivaled, a new domestic winter league. Others will play in various FIBA Europe leagues. And others will just take the time off.
The 2024-25 WNBA offseason is underway. And this is when players on the Washington Mystics and other teams will do various things. Some will stay home. Some will take part in various professional leagues, whether in the USA (yes, that is an option) and others abroad. According to a recent release by Tyler Byrum of Monumental Sports, here is what the team is up to.
Resting this offseason
- Stefanie Dolson
- Aaliyah Edwards
- Shakira Austin
Playing in an American winter league
- Brittney Sykes — She plans to be in Unrivaled, a new winter women’s basketball league)
Playing internationally
- Ariel Atkins (Fenerbahçe in Istanbul, Turkey) — After a year off on Michigan’s coaching staff, Atkins signed with the reigning EuroLeague Women champions where she will be a key partner-in-crime to franchise player Emma Meesseman who could get her third EuroLeague MVP award this season.
- Emily Engstler (Hapoel Lev Jerusalem in Israel) — Engstler’s Israeli team won the national cup last season.
- Sina Kone (Perfumerias Avenida in Spain) — Kone played for this EuroLeague team last season.
- Jade Melbourne (Canberra Capitals, Australian WNBL) — She has played for the team previously.
- Karlie Samuelson (CBK Mersin, Turkey) — She goes to Europe’s most competitive league in Turkey and also gets to compete in EuroLeague.
- Sug Sutton (Ormanspor, Turkey) — Again, Turkey is where the European women’s basketball powers are.
- Julie Vanloo (Galatasaray in Istanbul, Turkey) — Before coming to the Mystics last season, Vanloo played for Galatasaray in the winter. They are in the EuroCup.
- Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (Les Foxes Yerevan, Armenia) — SWK joins a club that will compete in EuroCup.