Washington now has the No. 3, No. 4 and No. 6 picks in the 2025 WNBA Draft. They could just pick the best players available, or they could use them to make further moves.
The Washington Mystics’ recent move to acquire the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft in exchange for Ariel Atkins has sent ripples through the league, signaling one of two possible strategies: a full-scale youth infusion or a potential blockbuster trade. By adding this selection to the No. 4 and No. 6 picks, the Mystics have placed themselves in a unique position to reshape their roster in a way few teams have the opportunity to do.
No. 1: A Full Rookie Reset
With three picks inside the top six, the Mystics could simply be looking to load their roster with as much young talent as possible. The 2025 draft class features multiple high-upside prospects who could realistically get picked in the Top 6 like UConn guard Azzi Fudd, Notre Dame guard Olivia Miles among others. They could have three decent rookies who would play significant minutes and be the face of the team that Monumental Basketball President Michael Winger and General Manager Jamila Wideman want s to build.
If Washington takes this route, this would confirm that they are doing a long-term rebuild, betting that multiple rookies can grow together and establish what they hope is a strong foundation for the future.
It also could be a deliberate way to keep the team in the bottom half of the standings so the Mystics can still stockpile young talent in 2026 during the free agency bonanza and more.
Given how the Washington Wizards are rebuilding around three rookies in Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington and Kyshawn George as well as sophomore Bilal Coulibaly this season, this seems like the most realistic path that the Mystics will take. They will just keep these three picks and build from there.
Path No. 2: Using the No. 3, No. 4, and/or No. 6 picks to move up in the 2025 WNBA Draft
On the other hand, acquiring the No. 3 pick also gives the Mystics significant leverage if they want to make a move now that Atkins is out. With the No. 1 and No. 2 picks belonging to the Dallas Wings and Los Angeles Sparks, respectively, Washington could attempt to package their picks to move into one of those spots—likely to target Bueckers.
Last November, there were reports saying the Bueckers is reportedly not thrilled with playing for the Wings if it came to it. The Mystics probably didn’t have much leverage to tempt the Wings toward a trade with just the No. 4 pick. But perhaps the No. 3 and let’s say Brittney Sykes? Could that give the Wings cause to pause?
And furthermore, Bueckers has ties to the D.C. area. She isn’t from here, but her father’s side of the family has lived in Montgomery County, Md. for some time. Just leaving that out there.
In short, what we know now
The Mystics’ decision to move on from Ariel Atkins, a key piece of their 2019 championship team, shows that Winger and Wideman are ready to remake the Mystics around a core that will be significantly different than former General Manager Mike Thibault.
Whether that means embracing a complete rebuild with a trio of rookies or leveraging their assets for a bigger prize remains to be seen. Though the Mystics may not have made many free agency signings so far, we at least now know that they weren’t asleep at the wheel this entire time.