It was announced today that the Washington Mystics received the fourth overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft. Washington acquired the Los Angeles Sparks’ 2023 draft pick from the Atlanta Dream in an April 2022 trade, after obtaining the right to swap its own 2023 first-round pick with Atlanta for Los Angeles’ first-round pick.
“Last year, we beat the odds in the lottery, and unfortunately, didn’t this year,” said General Manager and Head Coach Mike Thibault. “However, as a result of the trade, we have moved up four spots in the draft. We will get an excellent player with the fourth pick, and I look forward to continuing to improve our roster this offseason.”
The Mystics 2023 lottery pick will mark the third time the team will select the fourth overall pick since the current lottery format was introduced (2002). Notable franchise players selected with the fourth pick include Asjha Jones (2002) and Tayler Hill (2103).
On April 6, 2022, Washington dealt the top pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft to the Atlanta Dream in exchange for the third and fourteenth overall picks from Atlanta in 2022. Washington also obtained the right to swap its first-round pick with the Dream in the 2023 WNBA Draft, which Atlanta had previously acquired from the Los Angeles Sparks.
Last year, the Mystics held the third overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft selecting Shakira Austin from Ole Miss. Austin averaged 8.7 points and 6.4 rebounds while shooting 54.7% from the field over 36 games (32 starts). Austin was named to the 2022 WNBA All-Rookie Team, the 6th Mystics player to be named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team.
