The Washington Mystics head into the 2026-27 offseason with plenty of promise after making the WNBA Playoffs with the league’s youngest roster. Now it’s time for Michael Winger and his staff to decide how to position Washington for a deeper playoff run and a second championship.
Sabreena Merchant of The Athleticpublished an analysis piece todayon what each of the league’s 15 teams must priority. She determined that the Mystics’ priority is to bring in a perimeter scorer. Here is her rationale about
why:
The Mystics had the second-best defensive rating during the 2026 regular season behind the eventual champion Valkyries but finished 12th out of 15 in offensive rating. After the All-Star break, Washington was sixth in offensive rating, but the league had pretty clearly striated between playoff and lottery teams at that point, so the Mystics were still in the bottom rung of postseason teams in terms of scoring. Shakira Austin (who earned her first All-WNBA nod in 2026), Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen aren’t going anywhere, thus, the task becomes finding a scorer who can fit in alongside that trio.
Luckily, three high-volume scoring guards are on the free agency market in Jackie Young, Kelsey Plum and Kelsey Mitchell. Washington should throw anything and everything at that trio to come be the missing piece for the Mystics; cap space is not an issue since only Austin and Micaela Onyenwere are on non-rookie contracts (and Onyenwere’s is non-guaranteed). Plum fills the hole at point guard most naturally. Young is three years younger than Plum and has been a better defender, though she didn’t always exhibit that for the Aces in 2026. Getting the best 3-point shooting guard in the league in Mitchell, even if she isn’t a point guard, would also do wonders for Washington’s offensive spacing.
I agree with Merchant that the Mystics must prioritize bringing in a guard and throw the kitchen sink. The Mystics already have a core trio with Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen and Shakira Austin. However, it’s unclear where they will pick in the first round of the 2027 WNBA Draft using the Chicago Sky’s pick until the draft lottery. Furthermore, this will be the first offseason where Winger and the Mystics will likely be making a serious effort at acquiring an All-Star via free agency.
Of the three players, I feel that Kelsey Plum is the best option because she could form a deadly backcourt with Citron. However, Plum will also have plenty of suitors. And she hasn’t played for teams in the Eastern Conference, yet. Finally, the Mystics haven’t prioritized free agency like most teams since Winger took a more active role with the team in 2025. So does that perception stick with guards like Plum, Jackie Young or Kelsey Davis? I’m not sure.
Do you agree that the Mystics need to sign a star guard in free agency? Would you want Plum to be a Mystic or someone else? Let us know in the comments below!
