The Washington Mystics no longer have the first pick in next week’s WNBA draft. The Mystics had traded the No. 1 overall pick to the Atlanta Dream.
Washington has acquired Atlanta’s No. 3 overall pick, plus the No. 14 pick (second round) and the right to swap with the Los Angeles Sparks’ 2023 first-round draft pick which the Dream previously held the rights.
The Mystics won the WNBA lottery in December to get the No. 1 overall pick. It was the first time Washington won the lottery in franchise history.
Baylor forward NaLyssa Smith, Kentucky guard Rhyne Howard and Ole Miss center Shakira Austin head a deep group of prospects. However, there is no consensus top overall pick which may have made it easy for the Mystics to trade back.
This is the second consecutive year the No. 1 pick has been traded ahead of the draft. Last year, the New York Liberty traded the pick to the Seattle Storm, who in return moved the pick to the Dallas Wings.
This year’s draft will be Monday in New York.
