WNBA: Most Mystics fans don’t think they have an EDD successor

It’s time to reshuffle the deck.

• By
  
  Albert Lee
  
• on October 18, 2023 1:06 pm

Last week, we conducted a poll to determine if the next franchise player for the Washington Mystics is already on the team’s current roster.

A total of one hundred fifteen individuals participated in the poll, and the results were divided but decisive. The majority (57 percent) do not believe that the next franchise player for the Mystics is currently on the roster.

I am aligned with the majority opinion, and here’s why.

In general, a franchise player is typically the undisputed first overall draft pick. While there have been instances where franchise players emerged outside of the first pick, such as Delle Donne being drafted second overall by the Chicago Sky in 2013, it is extremely rare to find a guaranteed superstar in the middle or later rounds of the draft.

If we consider the history of most teams’ franchise players, they were usually drafted by those teams, with few exceptions like the Mystics’ championship season in 2019 and the Sky’s championship season in 2021.

Now, looking at the Mystics’ roster, there is no player who was a first overall pick. Since we agree that the team’s next franchise player is not currently on the roster, it is evident that a rebuilding phase is necessary. This means that I am open to the possibility of Delle Donne and Natasha Cloud, both free agents, joining other teams in 2024.

Considering the current era of the WNBA, which revolves around two superteams and the anticipated league expansion, it is in Washington’s long-term interest to reshuffle their roster since their current approach is not yielding desired results.

Unlike the rebuild process of the Wizards, which requires starting from scratch, the Mystics possess players who can be integral to their long-term plans. Starting with Shakira Austin, who had a remarkable rookie season for Washington and even represented Team USA in the 2022 World Cup, the team also has Ariel Atkins and Brittney Sykes, two defensively-minded guards who can form a strong core for years to come.

However, while they provide a solid foundation, Washington still lacks a definitive offensive powerhouse in the “Batman” role. One part of me leans towards building through the draft, but in the current WNBA landscape, it’s possible that the Mystics could regain contender status by signing a marquee free agent who can replace Delle Donne’s production, regardless of position.

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