The Washington Mystics are rewriting the WNBA’s rulebook, and it’s happening faster than anyone expected. Tuesday night’s 90-72 demolition of the Chicago Sky wasn’t just a win—it was a declaration. The youngest team in league history, averaging just 23.42 years old, walked onto the court without their star guard/forward Sonia Citron (foot injury) and still made a veteran-laden Sky squad look helpless.
After the game, rookie center Lauren Betts didn’t hold back. “We don’t use our age as an excuse. We show up to compete, and we show up to win—every single night,” the 22-year-old told ClutchPoints. “Tonight proved that. We don’t care who’s on the other side. We’re coming for the W.”
Washington’s oldest player? That would be 26-year-old forward Michaela Onyenwere. Meanwhile, the Sky rolled out seven-time All-Star Skylar Diggins, 34-year-old Natasha Cloud, 30-year-old Azura Stevens, and third-year center Kamilla Cardoso—the league’s fifth-leading rebounder. And still, the Mystics’ rookie brigade ran them off the floor. Insiders say the league is buzzing about what this means for the balance of power.
With Citron sidelined, Washington’s deep bench exploded. Rookie forward Angela Dugalic grabbed a career-high seven rebounds in just 13 minutes. Rookie guard Cassandre Prosper hauled in five boards in 20 minutes. And rookie guard Cotie McMahon posted career numbers—four assists and three steals across 25 minutes. “We’re stacked,” Betts said. “Not many teams can bring that kind of firepower off the bench. We grind in practice, we trust each other, and tonight was proof.”
This isn’t an accident. The Mystics have drafted 11 players over the last two offseasons—more than they drafted in the previous five years combined. General manager Jamila Wideman (since departed) and head coach Sydney Johnson tore down the roster after 2024, shipping out veterans like Ariel Atkins (to Chicago for the No. 3 pick), Brittney Sykes (to Seattle for a future first-rounder), and Aaliyah Edwards (to Connecticut for guard Jacy Sheldon and a pick swap). The result? A treasure chest of young talent: Citron, USC forward Kiki Iriafen, Kentucky guard Georgia Amoore, Betts, Dugalic, McMahon, and a 2028 first-round pick from the Sky.
Citron and Iriafen both earned All-Star and All-Rookie honors last year. Iriafen is third in the WNBA in rebounds per game this season (10.5). Citron leads the team in scoring (17.7 points per game) on 54.2% shooting. But her absence is opening doors for others—like McMahon, who slid into the starting lineup Tuesday and nearly doubled her minutes from the previous three games combined.
The real intrigue, according to league insiders, is what Washington does next. With 10 players on rookie deals—including Spanish guard Alicia Florez, who signed a standard contract Thursday—the team is reportedly evaluating which pieces to keep long-term. Florez has outplayed Amoore since arriving, averaging 7.3 points and 4.3 assists in 22.3 minutes, while Amoore has struggled at 3.6 points on 23% shooting. One source close to the team told us: “They’re not just building for the future—they’re competing now. And that’s scary for the rest of the league.”
The Mystics sit at 4-4, ninth in the league, and are currently on the playoff bubble. If the youngest team in WNBA history stays there, it signals that the rebuild is ahead of schedule. Up next: a road date with the Atlanta Dream on Saturday, followed by a home showdown with the Indiana Fever on Monday. And if Tuesday was any indication, the WNBA’s old guard should be very, very nervous.
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