The Washington Mystics’ training camp is underway, with most top free agents now on their teams. The Mystics’ roster looks super young and they will likely not make enough to hit a minimum salary cap figure. Given that possibility, it’s possible that the Mystics may look to sign one more free agent.
As of today, there are three players who have not yet found a WNBA team: Emma Meesseman, Tina Charles and Natasha Cloud. All three played in the WNBA last season. And all three were at one point Mystics
players. So we will go over the pros, cons and likelihood of the Mystics signing them.
Emma Meesseman
- Position: PF
- Age: 33 (will be 34 in 2026)
- Team in 2025: Liberty (was a midyear addition)
- WNBA career: Was the Mystics’ No. 19 overall pick in 2013. Played in Washington from 2013-20, played for the Chicago Sky in 2022.
- WNBA accolades: 2x WNBA All-Star, 2019 WNBA Finals MVP
Why Washington would want her to sign: The Mystics have the cap space to roll out the red carpet. In addition, Meesseman is one of the franchise’s all-time greats who led led the team to the 2019 WNBA championship. She is still one of the top power forwards in the WNBA as well who could work well with Sonia Citron and make a fearsome post rotation with Kiki Iriafen and Shakira Austin.
Why Washington wouldn’t want to sign her: The Mystics are loaded up in the frontcourt personnel wise, not just with Iriafen and Austin, but also rookies Lauren Betts and Angela Dugalic. Adding Meesseman will make some post (or probably all of them) unhappy. It wasn’t long ago when I thought about Meeseman running the Mystics during her prime. But unfortunately, that never happened. And furthermore, time flies. Finally, Michael Winger probably wants a clean break from the Mike Thibault Era … and … the Belgian Cats’ head coach? It’s Thibault.
Ultimately, will she likely sign with Washington? Nope. Even if Meesseman agrees to play with a WNBA team before the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup, it’s clear that she wants to get a medal with the Belgium women’s national basketball team. And regarding WNBA teams, Meesseman will likely want to play for a contender and go ring chasing, NOT play for a rebuilding team. That’s based on her signings with the Sky and Liberty.
Tina Charles
- Position: C
- Age: 38
- Team in 2025: Connecticut Sun
- WNBA career: Was the Sun’s No. 1 overall pick in 2010. Played for Connecticut from 2010-13; New York Liberty, 2013-19; Washington Mystics in 2021; Phoenix Mercury and Seattle Storm in 2022; Atlanta Dream 2024
- WNBA accolades: 2012 WNBA MVP, 8x WNBA All-Star among others.
Why Washington would want her to sign: Very similar reasons to Meesseman, though Charles would be more of an active mentor because she is older.
Why Washington wouldn’t want to sign her: Basically, the same reasons why the Mystics wouldn’t want to sign Meesseman. Also, Charles hasn’t won a WNBA championship yet. She may want to go ring chasing too.
Ultimately, will she likely sign with Washington? Again, nope.
Natasha Cloud
- Position: G
- Age: 34
- Team in 2025: New York Liberty
- WNBA career: Was the Mystics’ No. 15 overall pick in 2015. Played for the Mystics from 2015-23, Phoenix Mercury in 2024, Liberty in 2025
- WNBA accolades: 3x WNBA All-Defensive team, including first team honors in 2022.
Why Washington would want her to sign: The Mystics have a very young roster with no proven point guard. Last year, Cloud averaged 10.1 points and 5.1 assists per game for New York and she would be the mentor guard to Georgia Amoore right away. Furthermore, Cloud could be a more defensive-minded version of Trae Young to the Wizards, where he is in that kind of role for the NBA team. Also, players like Citron, Iriafen, Austin, Betts, Dugalic, Cotie McMahon, etc. will need a top tier point guard to get them in their spots. Cloud could be that point guard for Washington in a hypothetical second stint. Finally, the Mystics have the cap space to sign Cloud to a maximum deal.
Why Washington wouldn’t want to sign her: Given the youth movement that Washington is poised to do, I’m not sure that the Mystics would want her.
Ultimately, will she likely sign with Washington? Currently, Cloud hasn’t signed with a team. She still has enough left in the tank to contribute to a high-performing team. Cloud even wrote about her protracted free agency on Threads recently.
I am not sold on Amoore being a starting point guard (and a rookie at that) in 2026 for the Mystics. Alex Wilson has professional experience, but this is her first WNBA season. So count me in as someone who wouldn’t mind seeing Cloud sign her next contract with the Mystics for one or two seasons where she could be a catalyst for this young squad.
