2016 Record:13-21
Key Offseason Moves:Acquired Elena Delle Donne in a trade with the Chicago Sky
in exchange for Stefanie Dolson, Kahleah Copper and the No. 2 pick in the 2017
WNBA Draft
Acquired the No. 6 pick in the 2017 draft from the Seattle Storm as part of a
three-team trade with the Mystics sending Bria Hartley and Kia Vaughn to New
York
Signed free agent Kristi Toliver
Re-signed Tayler Hill
2016 Highlights
EDD Takes DC
The Mystics pulled off one of the biggest trades in WNBA history by acquiring
former MVP and scoring champ Elena Delle Donne from the Chicago Sky.
Her list of accolades is lengthy, including individual awards and her
contributions to Team USA’s Gold Medal in Rio last summer. One thing is certain
– she can revitalize Washington’s franchise. Her arrival has already caused a
whirlwind of speculation and sky-high expectations for the team this season. She
will produce, just as she always does, and the Mystics can do some incredible
things this season because of her immense talents.
Adding A ‘Spark’
The Mystics didn’t just make a splash on the trade market, they also did in free
agency. The club signed Kristi Toliver from the Los Angeles Sparks, fresh off
her WNBA championship victory over the Minnesota Lynx.
Playing her last seven seasons in LA beside Candace Parker, Toliver is now a
seasoned vet with a championship ring and solid leadership qualities. Her
outside shooting ability will give Washington another option to stretch the
floor on offense and take some pressure off of Delle Donne.
The Balling Belgian
Perhaps the scariest part about the Mystics is that, in addition to EDD and the
other scorers on the roster, they also boast perhaps the WNBA’s most versatile
center.
Indeed, 23-year-old Emma Meesseman is a stretch-5 who can pull her defender
outside the 3-point line and create easy routes to the basket for her teammates.
She can also knock shots down from deep, as evidenced by her near-45% mark from
long distance, ranking best in the league ahead of Seattle’s Sue Bird.
Meesseman attempted and made the most 3’s of her career last season, resulting
in the highest scoring output in her four years in the WNBA. It’ll be
interesting to see what year five holds for the Belgian.
Top Of The Hill
In her first year as a starter, Tayler Hill started in all 32 games she played
and led the Mystics with 15.4 points per game. She averaged career-highs across
the board and nearly doubled her scoring average from the year before.
Now with an established scorer like EDD around, Hill should be able to get
better looks, leading to more efficient scoring. If all the pieces come together
quickly, this Mystics offense should be one of the league’s most potent.
Sharp-Shooting Shatori
With the No. 6 pick in the 2017 Draft, the Mystics selected Shatori
Walker-Kimbrough from Maryland, and she should be able to contribute immediately
as a 3-point markswoman.
After all, shooting threes is what she does best, having set Maryland and Big 10
3-point field goal percentage marks as well as leading the NCAA in 3-point
shooting as a junior, shooting 54.5% from behind the arc.
The Mystics already have the first, third and fourth best 3-point shooters from
last season (Meesseman, Delle Donne and Toliver, respectively) and now added
arguably the best shooter available in the draft. The pick came from the Storm
in a three-team deal that saw the Liberty land Bria Hartley and Kia Vaughn. This
offense has the capabilities of being a modern, run-and-gun WNBA offense.
