Basketball
The Washington Mystics have signaled they’re prioritizing long-term success over short-term wins when they opted to trade two-time All-Star guard Ariel Atkins for the No. 3 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft.
The Mystics, who finished with the WNBA’s fourth-worst record last season, are stocking up on draft capital, now in control of the No. 3, No. 4, and No. 6 picks in the upcoming draft. Alongside last year’s standout rookie Aaliyah Edwards, Washington could bring in players like French center Dominique Malonga, Notre Dame forward Sonia Citron, USC forward Kiki Iriafen, and NC State guard Saniyah Rivers, among others. (The Athletic currently projects the Mystics will snag Malonga, Citron, and Rivers). Tankathon, meanwhile, has the Mystics selecting Maryland guard Shyanne Sellers alongside Citron and Malonga.
Regardless of who exactly the Mystics select, recent moves have clarified they’re prioritizing player development for the new additions. Under newly-hired head coach Sydney Johnson, Washington has added assistant coaches Emre Vatansever and Jessie Miller, both of whom have extensive player development background.
Johnson himself most recently served as an assistant coach on the Chicago Sky after coaching men’s college basketball for nearly two decades. He has also coached USA Basketball, leading the 3×3 AmeriCup team in December to a silver-medal finish.
Emre Vatansever and Jessie Miller both bring player development experience to the Mystics
Vatansever is an offensive strategist who previously served as a player development coach on the Chicago Sky, helping them win their first championship in 2021. He ultimately served as an interim head coach, and the general manager, of the franchise. Before his Sky tenure, he was a player development coach on the Seattle Storm, helping to develop WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Jewell Loyd.
Miller, meanwhile, most recently led player development efforts on the Indiana Fever, specifically working with guards, like superstar Caitlin Clark, who was named to the First-Team All-WNBA in her rookie season.
Alongside the prospects that the Mystics will acquire next month, they have a plethora of other young standouts, including 24-year-old center Shakira Austin and 24-year-old forward Emily Engstler.
“I am thrilled to welcome Emre and Jessie to our Mystics staff,” Johnson said in the team’s official press release. “They bring extensive coaching experience from both the WNBA and international levels, with a strong emphasis on player development. Their ability to build strong, meaningful relationships with players, coupled with a commitment to innovation and adaptability, keeps pace with the evolving needs of the WNBA’s next generation.”
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