The Washington Mystics’ players and coaches weren’t initially sure if opening day would arrive on time, with a labor dispute threatening the league’s landmark 30th season, which kicks off Friday when the Mystics visit the newly formed Toronto Tempo.
The WNBA’s players and executives agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement last month, which led to a condensed offseason that crammed the draft, free agency, training camp and the preseason into a few weeks.
“I can’t believe it’s already here. It’s crazy; training camp went fast this year,” Washington guard Lucy Olsen said Wednesday, ahead of her second WNBA season. “I’m excited. Our group is all together now, and it’s just good vibes.”
The energy has been slowly building at the Mystics’ practice facility in the District. Coach and de facto general manager Sydney Johnson brought 18 young players to training camp before trimming the roster to 12 on Tuesday.
Only five of the remaining players have appeared in a WNBA game before. Three of those “veterans,” including Olsen and All-Stars Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen, made their professional debuts last year.
“It’s good that we have the energy. But I think, because we’re all so new, there’s a lot to build on,” Olsen said. “It’ll take some time to get used to each other and build that chemistry. But it’s so cool that we’re all so young and we can grow together.”
The Mystics used their three first-round selections in this year’s draft on UCLA forward Lauren Betts, her Bruins teammate Angela Dugalic and Ole Miss guard Cotie McMahon. The trio joins last year’s three first-rounders — Iriafen, Citron and guard Georgia Amoore — in a young core that ranks as one of the brightest in the league.
Betts was a two-time All-American and the 2025 Defensive Player of the Year in college, while Dugalic and McMahon were among the most efficient scorers in the draft.
“We’re building every single day,” said Dugalic, who led UCLA to a national title alongside Betts last season. “We’re going to be continuing to build throughout the whole season, as well. Just day by day, you can see the flow of the game is coming more naturally to us.”
The responsibility has fallen on Johnson to prepare the youngest team in the league to hit the ground running. The players, he noted, are eager to show what they can do.
“They’re chomping at the bit to prove themselves and compete,” he said. “We certainly want to do all of that and stay together and stay connected. That’s what we’re here for.”
Building a young team is not the same as rebuilding a team, though. Despite a 16-28 record last season, the Mystics are looking to compete for a playoff spot. The group isn’t expecting a steep learning curve as its rookies find their WNBA footing.
“We’re expecting to win on Friday,” Olsen said. “Our expectations are high. Who knows what’s going to happen, but we’re here to win. We’re not going to take any time to figure it out. If it comes that way, it comes that way. But we’re ready to go.”
Teams across the league, which expanded to 15 teams this year with the addition of the Tempo and the Portland Fire, are sharing a similar sentiment. A juggernaut is lurking in the Western Conference, though.
The Las Vegas Aces are looking to defend their title after securing their third championship in four years. Forward A’ja Wilson is the reigning MVP after winning the award for a WNBA record fourth time.
In the league’s annual survey of general managers, 40% predicted that the Aces would repeat. A total of 60% guessed that Wilson would extend her reign of dominance with a fifth MVP award.
But, to the joy of the WNBA’s broadcast partners, Caitlin Clark is on a revenge tour. The Indiana Fever’s superstar guard ushered in a new era of women’s basketball when she joined the league in 2024, bringing a legion of fans with her from her college days at Iowa.
In the intervening two years, WNBA attendance and viewership numbers have soared, with teams often needing to move their games to larger venues when the Aces or Fever visit.
But Clark missed all but 13 games due to a nagging groin injury last season. Now healthy, she’s looking to showcase her abilities as one of the league’s most dynamic passers and shooters.
“One of the most important things somebody ever said to me is you’ve reached this point, but as you continue to grow, the thing you have to do is be able to win,” Clark told Yahoo Sports. “That’s my main focus, winning and winning a championship. Everything else will come along with that.”
The rising stars, expansion teams and increased media spotlight have made the upcoming season the most anticipated in WNBA history. The excitement, according to Johnson, is “palpable.”
“It’s a wonderful moment,” he said. “There have been wonderful players in this league, there’s no doubt, but I just think this is a really special moment for women’s sports.”
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