After Washington got a taste of the playoffs last year, much in part to the addition of Elena Delle Donne, expectations are higher than an 18-16 record heading into 2018.
The Mystics need a big year out of both Delle Donne and Kristi Toliver offensively, but grooming the less experienced players and getting others involved will be equally as important.
Team Stats
Offensive Rating: 103.9 (6th)
Defensive Rating: 103.4 (6th)
Pace: 77.9 (9th)
The good - The Mystics were outstanding from the charity stripe (84.3%) last year, finished tied for second in blocks per game (4.6) and only averaged an impressive and league-best 12.1 turnovers per game.
The bad - Although they led the WNBA in 3-point attempts, they were in the lower half in a handful of key offensive categories including field goal percentage (10th), points per game (8th), and assists (10th).
What have the Mystics done in the offseason?
Key Absences: Emma Meesseman, who was second in scoring behind Delle Donne last season, will not play in 2018. Additionally, Tayler Hill is recovering from an ACL injury and won’t be full-speed until June.
Key Additions: Washington signed two free agents in Monique Currie (guard/forward) and Devereaux Peters (forward).
Re-signings: They have re-signed Tianna Hawkins, LaToya Sanders, Allison Hightower and Asia Taylor.
The Mystics’ draft picks
The Mystics will have picks in all three rounds — No. 7, No. 19 and No. 31 overall.
What does Washington need?
Perhaps a Gabby Williams-type player or maybe Gabby Williams herself would be ideal for Washington. With Meesseman out, Delle Donne and Toliver will need some help scoring. A player that is disciplined, primed for the big leagues and hungry to make an impact right away on an up-and-coming squad makes sense here.