Mystics Ready to Go in 26 with Young Core of Winners

Story By: Erin Zollars

Photos By: Sol Tucker

Washington, D.C–

With everything that is going on in the WNBA world this season, why not start mostly fresh like the Mystics are doing this season. With most of the faces gone from last season, the Mystics will rely on Sonia Citron and Georgia Amoore to anchor this offense this season, which features on the youngest rosters in team history.

The Mystics had three first-round picks in 2026, selecting center Lauren Betts (No. 4), forward Angela Dugalić (No. 9), and forward Cotie McMahon (No. 11). Betts and Dugalic figure to be a big part of this offense this season and both players winning a championship at UCLA this season gives both of Betts and Dugalic an advantage of what it is like to play in championship atmosphere, which they hope to build this season.

Betts was asked about her ability to help players that were here last season and she was thrilled to come to team that is ready to compete.

“To see how far along we’ve come, I’m just very grateful to be arriving here at a time when women’s sports is at such a high level right now. The attendance, and the viewership—it’s all so important,” she added.

Cotie McMahon is another name you should pay attention to this season. She is one of the other marquee players from the Mystics’ first-round draft picks, McMahon—who finished her collegiate career at Ole Miss said she is focused on leaning into her strengths as a physical and versatile forward.

Notable about this roster on media day was that 12 out of the 18 players are rookies on this team

Shakira Austin is back a multi-year deal that was matched when she announced that the Mystics would match the offer sheet from the Toronto Tempo. The second veteran forward Michaela Onyenwere is also going to a huge part of leading the young core of players.

Below is the next couple of weeks for the Mystics that starts this weekend with preseason.