The Washington Mystics are at a crossroads. After being eliminated from the first round of the playoffs for the second year in a row, the team now has to make some decisions surrounding the futures of the core players of the team.
The big move was the Mystics coring Elena Delle Donne this past week. What does this decision say about the team’s other potential moves and team-building strategy?
Facts and figures*
Players under contract (contract status; 2024 salary)
- Ariel Atkins (protected veteran; $200,000)
- Brittney Sykes (protected veteran; $190,000)
- Myisha Hines-Allen (protected veteran; $180,200)
- Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (unprotected; $97,850)
- Shakira Austin (unprotected; $80,943)
- Queen Egbo (unprotected; $74,398)
Free agents (type; 2023 salary)
- Elena Delle Donne (unrestricted free agent; $234,350) [cored 1/14]
- Natasha Cloud (unrestricted free agent; $190,000)
- Tianna Hawkins (unrestricted free agent; $74,305)
- Li Meng (reserved free agent; $62,285) [QO extended 1/11]
Total salary of free agents: $560,940
Total team salary: $823,391
Cap space: $639,809
Unsigned draftees (2024 salary)
2024 WNBA Draft picks (2024 salary)
- Round 1, No. 6 ($73,439)
- Round 2, No. 21 ($67,249)
- Round 3, No. 30 ($64,154)
Analysis
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