The Washington Mystics are officially headed to the 2026 WNBA Playoffs! And here’s the scary thing for anyone who isn’t a Mystics fan. Washington is playing with house money because … they weren’t supposed to be here yet.
Few people would confidently say that Washington would be in the playoffs with the youngest roster in the WNBA. This season was supposed to be a rebuild. It still is. But the goal for 2026 appeared to be seeing Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen and Shakira Austin with a young core while
maintaining flexibility later. If the Mystics stumbled this year, few would have been surprised. Even I thought that Washington was lottery-bound, though not a bottom feeder. In fact, I thought the Mystics were going to be lottery-bound for multiple years.
But hey, I don’t mind eating crow in this case.
Along the way in 2026, we have seen Citron, Iriafen and Austin emerging as a foundational core for the Mystics. Though the Mystics have a very young roster, they are also one of the WNBA’s top defensive teams ranking No. 3 in efficiency. They are the top rebounding team in the WNBA. Sydney Johnson has proven he can get this roster to play hard for him and celebrate after each win.
And here’s the scariest part. Washington is in a really good position for the future.
The Mystics did all this without spending big money on a free agent before this season. Their core will not be playing in the FIBA Women’s World Cup, which allows the Mystics to potentially play with fresher legs toward the postseason. The Mystics as constructed are in good position to make the WNBA semifinals. Who knows, maybe they could even make the Finals, though I think that would be a stretch.
Then look at what could happen for 2027. The Mystics have cap space to spend on a potential free agent. And finally, they have the lottery-bound Chicago Sky’s first-round draft pick for 2027.
I’ll admit it. I thought the Mystics made the wrong call to basically stand pat before 2026 in a rebuilding year. But Washington has shown that they can rebuild and win at the same time. And for these Mystics, the best is yet to come.
